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michael-r-burchPoems
Epigrams III To be or not to be? In the end Hamlet opted for naught. —Michael R. Burch Love has the value of gold, if it’s true; if not, of rue. —Michael R. Burch Ars Brevis, Proofreading Longa by Michael R. Burch Poets may labor from sun to sun, but their editor's work is never done. Redefinitions Faith: falling into the same old claptrap.—Michael R. Burch Religion: the ties that blind.—Michael R. Burch Baseball: lots of spittin’ mixed with some hittin’.—Michael R. Burch Trickle down economics: an especially pungent golden shower.—Michael R. Burch Poetry: the art of finding the right word at the right time.—Michael R. Burch Bible Libel If God is good, half the Bible is libel. —Michael R. Burch The most dangerous words ever uttered by human lips are “thus saith the LORD.” — Michael R. Burch The Least of These... What you do to the refugee (the least of these) you do unto Me! —Jesus Christ, translation/paraphrase by Michael R. Burch The Church Gets the Burch Rod How can the Bible be "infallible" when from Genesis to Revelation slavery is commanded and condoned, but never condemned? —Michael R. Burch I have my doubts about your God and his "love": If one screams below, what the hell is "Above"? —Michael R. Burch If God has the cattle on a thousand hills, why does he need my tithes to pay his bills? —Michael R. Burch The best tonic for other people's bad ideas is to think for oneself.—Michael R. Burch Hell hath no fury like a fundamentalist whose God condemned him for having "impure thoughts."—Michael R. Burch Religion is the difficult process of choosing the least malevolent invisible friends.—Michael R. Burch Religion is the ****** of the people.—Karl Marx Religion is the dopiate of the sheeple.—Michael R. Burch To fall an inch short of infinity is to fall infinitely short.—Michael R. Burch Most Christians make God seem like the Devil. Atheists and agnostics at least give him the "benefit of the doubt."—Michael R. Burch Hell has been hellishly overdone since Jehovah and his prophets never mentioned it once. —Michael R. Burch (Bible scholars agree: the word "hell" has been removed from the Old Testaments of the more accurate modern Bible translations. And the few New Testament verses that mention "hell" are obvious mistranslations.) An ideal that cannot be realized is, in the end, just wishful thinking.—Michael R. Burch God and his "profits" could never agree on any gospel acceptable to an intelligent flea. —Michael R. Burch since God created u so gullible how did u conclude He’s so lovable? —Michael R. Burch If every witty thing that's said were true, Oscar Wilde, the world would worship You! —Michael R. Burch Translations Birdsong by Rumi loose translation by Michael R. Burch Birdsong relieves my deepest griefs: now I'm just as ecstatic as they, but with nothing to say! Please universe, rehearse your poetry through me! Raise your words, not their volume. Rain grows flowers, not thunder. —Rumi, translation by Michael R. Burch The imbecile constructs cages for everyone he knows, while the sage (who has to duck his head whenever the moon glows) keeps dispensing keys all night long to the beautiful, rowdy, prison gang. —Hafiz loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch An unbending tree breaks easily. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Little sparks ignite great flames.—Dante, translation by Michael R. Burch Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Booksellers laud authors for novel editions as pimps praise their ****** for exotic positions. —Thomas Campion, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch No wind is favorable to the man who lacks direction. —Seneca the Younger, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Hypocrisy may deceive the most perceptive adult, but the dullest child recognizes and is revolted by it, however ingeniously disguised. —Leo Tolstoy translation by Michael R. Burch Just as I select a ship when it's time to travel, or a house when it's time to change residences, even so I will choose when it's time to depart from life. —Seneca, speaking about the right to euthanasia in the first century AD, translation by Michael R. Burch Improve yourself through others' writings, thus attaining more easily what they acquired through great difficulty. —Socrates, translation by Michael R. Burch Fools call wisdom foolishness. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch One true friend is worth ten thousand kin. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Not to speak one’s mind is slavery. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch I would rather die standing than kneel, a slave. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Fresh tears are wasted on old griefs. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Native American Proverb loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Before you judge a man for his sins be sure to trudge many moons in his moccasins. Native American Proverb by Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota Sioux (circa 1840-1877) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A man must pursue his Vision as the eagle explores the sky's deepest blues. Native American Proverb loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let us walk respectfully here among earth's creatures, great and small, remembering, our footsteps light, that one wise God created all. Shattered by Vera Pavlova loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I shattered your heart; now I limp through the shards barefoot. Death by Michael R. Burch Death is the ultimate finality and banality of reality. Less Heroic Couplets: Miss Bliss by Michael R. Burch Domestic “bliss”? Best to swing and miss! Less Heroic Couplets: Then and Now by Michael R. Burch BEFORE: Thanks to Brexit, our lives will be plush! ... AFTER: Crap, we’re going broke! What the hell is the rush? Less Heroic Couplets: Dear Pleader by Michael R. Burch Is our Dear Pleader, as he claims, heroic? I prefer my presidents a bit more stoic. Less Heroic Couplets: Less than Impressed by Michael R. Burch for T. M., regarding certain dispensers of lukewarm air Their volume’s impressive, it’s true ... but somehow it all seems “much ado.” Less Heroic Couplets: Poetry I by Michael R. Burch Poetry is the heart’s caged rhythm, the soul’s frantic tappings at the panes of mortality. Less Heroic Couplets: Poetry II by Michael R. Burch Poetry is the trapped soul’s frantic tappings at the panes of mortality. Less Heroic Couplets: Seesaw by Michael R. Burch A poem is the mind teetering between fact and fiction, momentarily elevated. Less Heroic Couplets: Passions by Michael R. Burch Passions are the heart’s qualms, the soul’s squalls, the brain’s storms. Wayne Gretzky was pure skill poured into skates.—Michael R. Burch Justice may be blind, but does she have to be deaf too?—Michael R. Burch There is nothing at all supreme, nor anything remotely just, about Clarence Thomas.—Michael R. Burch VOLTAIRE These are English translations of Voltaire, one of the world's most prolific, best and most influential writers. Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), was an amazingly prolific writer who produced works in nearly every literary genre, including poems, plays, novels and novellas, satires, parodies, essays, histories, Bible criticism, and even early science fiction! Les Vous et Les Tu (“You, then and now”) by Voltaire loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Phyllis, whatever became of those days We spent riding in your carriage, Lacking both lackeys and trappings, Accompanied only by your graceful charms And content with a humble supper Which you (of course) transformed into ambrosia … Days when you abandoned yourself in your folly To the happily deceived lover Who so earnestly pledged you his life? Heaven had bequeathed you, then, In lieu of prestige and riches, The enchanting enticements of youth: A tender heart, an adventurous mind, An alabaster breast and exquisite eyes. Well, with so many luring allurements, Ah! what girl would have not been mischievous? And so you were, graceful creature. And thus (and may Love forgive me!) You know I desired you all the more. Ah, Madame! How your life, So filled with honors today, Differs from those lost enchantments! This hulking guardian with the powdered hair Who lies incessantly at your door, Phyllis, is the very avatar of Time: See how he dismisses the escorts Of tender Love and Laughter; Those orphans no longer dare show their faces Beneath your magnificent paneled ceilings. Alas! in happier days I saw them Enter your home through a glassless window To frolic in your hovel. No, Madame, all these carpets Spun at the Savonnerie And so elegantly loomed by the Persians; And all your golden jewelry; And all this expensive porcelain Germain engraved with his divine hand; And all these cabinets in which Martin Surpassed the art of China; And all your white vases, Such fragile Japanese wonders!; And the twin chandeliers of diamonds Dangling from your ears; And your costly chokers and necklaces; And all this spellbinding pomp; Are not worth a single kiss You blessed me with when you were young. TRANSLATIONS OF VOLTAIRE EPIGRAMS AND QUOTES Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Love is a canvas created by nature and completed by imagination. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch If God did not create us, it was necessary for us to create him. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch My only prayer to God was, “Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.” And he granted it. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch God is a jester performing for an audience too frightened to laugh. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Doubt is an undesirable condition, but preferable to ludicrous certainty. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Faith is believing what reason cannot countenance. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch ‎Life is a shipwreck, yet we must sing in the lifeboats. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Every man is a product of his age and few are able to rise above its misconceptions. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Judge a man by his doubts rather than his certainties. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The secret of being a bore is to reveal everything. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Common sense is uncommon. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the malady is usually incurable. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: epigram shakespeare love faith religion hell church bible infinity god, mrbepi, mrbepig, mrbepigram Published as the collection "Epigrams III"
0
Feb 24, 2020
Feb 24, 2020 at 2:21 AM UTC
Epigrams III
Epigrams III To be or not to be? In the end Hamlet opted for naught. —Michael R. Burch Love has the value of gold, if it’s true; if not, of rue. —Michael R. Burch Ars Brevis, Proofreading Longa by Michael R. Burch Poets may labor from sun to sun, but their editor's work is never done. Redefinitions Faith: falling into the same old claptrap.—Michael R. Burch Religion: the ties that blind.—Michael R. Burch Baseball: lots of spittin’ mixed with some hittin’.—Michael R. Burch Trickle down economics: an especially pungent golden shower.—Michael R. Burch Poetry: the art of finding the right word at the right time.—Michael R. Burch Bible Libel If God is good, half the Bible is libel. —Michael R. Burch The most dangerous words ever uttered by human lips are “thus saith the LORD.” — Michael R. Burch The Least of These... What you do to the refugee (the least of these) you do unto Me! —Jesus Christ, translation/paraphrase by Michael R. Burch The Church Gets the Burch Rod How can the Bible be "infallible" when from Genesis to Revelation slavery is commanded and condoned, but never condemned? —Michael R. Burch I have my doubts about your God and his "love": If one screams below, what the hell is "Above"? —Michael R. Burch If God has the cattle on a thousand hills, why does he need my tithes to pay his bills? —Michael R. Burch The best tonic for other people's bad ideas is to think for oneself.—Michael R. Burch Hell hath no fury like a fundamentalist whose God condemned him for having "impure thoughts."—Michael R. Burch Religion is the difficult process of choosing the least malevolent invisible friends.—Michael R. Burch Religion is the ****** of the people.—Karl Marx Religion is the dopiate of the sheeple.—Michael R. Burch To fall an inch short of infinity is to fall infinitely short.—Michael R. Burch Most Christians make God seem like the Devil. Atheists and agnostics at least give him the "benefit of the doubt."—Michael R. Burch Hell has been hellishly overdone since Jehovah and his prophets never mentioned it once. —Michael R. Burch (Bible scholars agree: the word "hell" has been removed from the Old Testaments of the more accurate modern Bible translations. And the few New Testament verses that mention "hell" are obvious mistranslations.) An ideal that cannot be realized is, in the end, just wishful thinking.—Michael R. Burch God and his "profits" could never agree on any gospel acceptable to an intelligent flea. —Michael R. Burch since God created u so gullible how did u conclude He’s so lovable? —Michael R. Burch If every witty thing that's said were true, Oscar Wilde, the world would worship You! —Michael R. Burch Translations Birdsong by Rumi loose translation by Michael R. Burch Birdsong relieves my deepest griefs: now I'm just as ecstatic as they, but with nothing to say! Please universe, rehearse your poetry through me! Raise your words, not their volume. Rain grows flowers, not thunder. —Rumi, translation by Michael R. Burch The imbecile constructs cages for everyone he knows, while the sage (who has to duck his head whenever the moon glows) keeps dispensing keys all night long to the beautiful, rowdy, prison gang. —Hafiz loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch An unbending tree breaks easily. —Lao Tzu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Little sparks ignite great flames.—Dante, translation by Michael R. Burch Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Booksellers laud authors for novel editions as pimps praise their ****** for exotic positions. —Thomas Campion, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch No wind is favorable to the man who lacks direction. —Seneca the Younger, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Hypocrisy may deceive the most perceptive adult, but the dullest child recognizes and is revolted by it, however ingeniously disguised. —Leo Tolstoy translation by Michael R. Burch Just as I select a ship when it's time to travel, or a house when it's time to change residences, even so I will choose when it's time to depart from life. —Seneca, speaking about the right to euthanasia in the first century AD, translation by Michael R. Burch Improve yourself through others' writings, thus attaining more easily what they acquired through great difficulty. —Socrates, translation by Michael R. Burch Fools call wisdom foolishness. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch One true friend is worth ten thousand kin. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Not to speak one’s mind is slavery. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch I would rather die standing than kneel, a slave. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Fresh tears are wasted on old griefs. ―Euripides, translation by Michael R. Burch Native American Proverb loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Before you judge a man for his sins be sure to trudge many moons in his moccasins. Native American Proverb by Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota Sioux (circa 1840-1877) loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A man must pursue his Vision as the eagle explores the sky's deepest blues. Native American Proverb loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let us walk respectfully here among earth's creatures, great and small, remembering, our footsteps light, that one wise God created all. Shattered by Vera Pavlova loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I shattered your heart; now I limp through the shards barefoot. Death by Michael R. Burch Death is the ultimate finality and banality of reality. Less Heroic Couplets: Miss Bliss by Michael R. Burch Domestic “bliss”? Best to swing and miss! Less Heroic Couplets: Then and Now by Michael R. Burch BEFORE: Thanks to Brexit, our lives will be plush! ... AFTER: Crap, we’re going broke! What the hell is the rush? Less Heroic Couplets: Dear Pleader by Michael R. Burch Is our Dear Pleader, as he claims, heroic? I prefer my presidents a bit more stoic. Less Heroic Couplets: Less than Impressed by Michael R. Burch for T. M., regarding certain dispensers of lukewarm air Their volume’s impressive, it’s true ... but somehow it all seems “much ado.” Less Heroic Couplets: Poetry I by Michael R. Burch Poetry is the heart’s caged rhythm, the soul’s frantic tappings at the panes of mortality. Less Heroic Couplets: Poetry II by Michael R. Burch Poetry is the trapped soul’s frantic tappings at the panes of mortality. Less Heroic Couplets: Seesaw by Michael R. Burch A poem is the mind teetering between fact and fiction, momentarily elevated. Less Heroic Couplets: Passions by Michael R. Burch Passions are the heart’s qualms, the soul’s squalls, the brain’s storms. Wayne Gretzky was pure skill poured into skates.—Michael R. Burch Justice may be blind, but does she have to be deaf too?—Michael R. Burch There is nothing at all supreme, nor anything remotely just, about Clarence Thomas.—Michael R. Burch VOLTAIRE These are English translations of Voltaire, one of the world's most prolific, best and most influential writers. Voltaire, born François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), was an amazingly prolific writer who produced works in nearly every literary genre, including poems, plays, novels and novellas, satires, parodies, essays, histories, Bible criticism, and even early science fiction! Les Vous et Les Tu (“You, then and now”) by Voltaire loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Phyllis, whatever became of those days We spent riding in your carriage, Lacking both lackeys and trappings, Accompanied only by your graceful charms And content with a humble supper Which you (of course) transformed into ambrosia … Days when you abandoned yourself in your folly To the happily deceived lover Who so earnestly pledged you his life? Heaven had bequeathed you, then, In lieu of prestige and riches, The enchanting enticements of youth: A tender heart, an adventurous mind, An alabaster breast and exquisite eyes. Well, with so many luring allurements, Ah! what girl would have not been mischievous? And so you were, graceful creature. And thus (and may Love forgive me!) You know I desired you all the more. Ah, Madame! How your life, So filled with honors today, Differs from those lost enchantments! This hulking guardian with the powdered hair Who lies incessantly at your door, Phyllis, is the very avatar of Time: See how he dismisses the escorts Of tender Love and Laughter; Those orphans no longer dare show their faces Beneath your magnificent paneled ceilings. Alas! in happier days I saw them Enter your home through a glassless window To frolic in your hovel. No, Madame, all these carpets Spun at the Savonnerie And so elegantly loomed by the Persians; And all your golden jewelry; And all this expensive porcelain Germain engraved with his divine hand; And all these cabinets in which Martin Surpassed the art of China; And all your white vases, Such fragile Japanese wonders!; And the twin chandeliers of diamonds Dangling from your ears; And your costly chokers and necklaces; And all this spellbinding pomp; Are not worth a single kiss You blessed me with when you were young. TRANSLATIONS OF VOLTAIRE EPIGRAMS AND QUOTES Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the incurable malady invariably remains. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Love is a canvas created by nature and completed by imagination. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch If God did not create us, it was necessary for us to create him. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch My only prayer to God was, “Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.” And he granted it. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch God is a jester performing for an audience too frightened to laugh. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Doubt is an undesirable condition, but preferable to ludicrous certainty. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Faith is believing what reason cannot countenance. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch ‎Life is a shipwreck, yet we must sing in the lifeboats. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Every man is a product of his age and few are able to rise above its misconceptions. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Judge a man by his doubts rather than his certainties. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The secret of being a bore is to reveal everything. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Common sense is uncommon. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Once fanaticism has gangrened brains the malady is usually incurable. —Voltaire, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Keywords/Tags: epigram shakespeare love faith religion hell church bible infinity god, mrbepi, mrbepig, mrbepigram Published as the collection "Epigrams III"
#epigram#shakespeare#voltaire#love#faith#religion#hell#church#bible#god
Written by
michael-r-burch
62/M/Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 24, 2020
Feb 24, 2020 at 2:21 AM UTC
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