Childless

Epigrams/Epitaphs Childless by Michael R. Burch How can she bear her grief? Mightier than Atlas, she shoulders the weight of one fallen star. *** Laughter’s Cry by Michael R. Burch Because life is a mystery, we laugh and do not know the half. Because death is a mystery, we cry when one is gone, our numbering thrown awry. *** Long Division by Michael R. Burch All things become one Through death’s long division And perfect precision. *** Autumn Conundrum by Michael R. Burch It’s not that every leaf must finally fall, it’s just that we can never catch them all. *** Piercing the Shell by Michael R. Burch If we strip away all the accouterments of war, perhaps we’ll discover what the heart is for. *** Here and Hereafter by Michael R. Burch Life’s saving graces are love, pleasure, laughter ... wisdom, it seems, is for the Hereafter. *** Epitaph for a Palestinian Child by Michael R. Burch I lived as best I could, and then I died. Be careful where you step: the grave is wide. *** Styx by Michael R. Burch Black waters, deep and dark and still... all men have passed this way, or will. *** honeybee by Michael R. Burch love is a little treble thing— prone to sing and (sometimes) to sting *** The Shrinking Season by Michael R. Burch With every wearying year the weight of the winter grows and while the schoolgirl outgrows her clothes, the widow disappears in hers. *** Stormfront by Michael R. Burch Our distance is frightening: a distance like the abyss between heaven and earth interrupted by bizarre and terrible lightning. *** brrExit by Michael R. Burch what would u give to simply not exist— for a painless exit? he asked himself, uncertain. then from behind the hospital room curtain a patient screamed— "my life!" *** briefling by Michael R. Burch manishatched,hopsintotheMix, cavorts,hassex(quick!,spawnanewBrood!); then,likeamayfly,he’ssuddenlygone: plantfood *** Stage Fright by Michael R. Burch To be or not to be? In the end Hamlet opted for naught. *** Housman was right... by Michael R. Burch It's true that life’s not much to lose, so why not hang out on a cloud? It’s just the "bon voyage" is hard and the objections loud. *** Here he lies in state tonight: great is his Monument! Yet Ares cares not, neither does War relent. —Michael R. Burch, after Anacreon Blame not the gale, or the inhospitable sea-gulf, or friends’ tardiness, mariner! Just man’s foolhardiness. —Michael R. Burch, after Leonidas of Tarentum