Long Hamlet Poems

Epigrams by Michael R. Burch

If brevity is the soul of wit
then brevity and levity 
are the whole of it.
—Michael R. Burch

To write an epigram, cram.
If you lack wit, scram!
—Michael R. Burch

Conformists of a feather
flock together.
—Michael...

Read More

~The Book~
 ( Narrative / Short Story)


 Shhh...Be quiet! please...or you'll wake up everyone...

 Did you see what that young man did all this evening at the table while taking some of his notes?
 Yes,...

Read More

Lumi smiled and reached out to grab his shoulder.  They passed over the ridge where, as Joulupukki had said, a small hamlet clung to the side of the mountain about equal distance to the...

Read More

“There,” Lumi said suddenly and Joulupukki looked through the trees, seeing a small house. 
     “Wait here said Joulupukki, I'll be right back.”
He made his way to the house and called...

Read More

(based on Aldous Huxley's book "Brave New World")

Human hatchery

Clink clink clink clink...
Test tubes prattling past
along the chrome plated production line.
Glistening under fake fluorescence
humming in harmony
with the magnetic motors
of conveyors, centrifuges and camshafts.
Biological blobs of gamete...

Read More

Shhh...Be quiet! please...or you'll wake up everybody... 

Did you see what that young man did all this evening at the table while taking  some of his notes? 
Yes, sure we did, and so what?...

Read More

What Kind of People Are We

In a Shakespearean sense of tragedy and doubt the well-used
“To Be or Not To Be” from Hamlet is not the question I shall
discuss in this narrative. Rather, I shall consider...

Read More

“Who...what are you?”  His gaze moved from Joulupukki to Lumi.  Lumi offered,
     “I am an elf of the Village Clan, and this is my companion Joulupukki.”
   ...

Read More

Doing absolute zero endeavors

Earlier today March 28th, 2025
(thee hour now fifteen minutes
after eight o'clock at night, cuz
yours truly & wife paced back
and forth from one room to the
other wearing out rugged groovy
Tuesday (three day) experienced...

Read More

“I do not know if he still lives in that cave or if he is even alive, but I can tell you where it is.  I have never shared this with anyone but Jessica,...

Read More

Shortly after the naming they made arrangements to visit Jessica's home in Nordgrend.  Her father, Raðulfr, sadly, had also succumbed to the last ringing of life's chimes as time's pendulum could no longer be...

Read More

Ceridfen had little trouble adjusting her menu to accommodate the new arrival.  She brought out a terrine of pumpkin soup, savory with a hint of spice and honey.  A casserole of squash and...

Read More

For old Star-Gazer Master Khayyam – a name like Shakespeare’s for « some » other giants - Part One

                ...

Read More

“One completed, two to go,” Lumi said to Joulupukki as he lifted the mud guard in front of them. He wanted to give Joulupukki the chance to talk if he wanted to.  His weary...

Read More

“Father, father where are you?”  She called to him and began to worry when he did not respond.  “Are you here father?”  She pushed aside the hides that separated the main room...

Read More

It was a cool, overcast and windy Sunday afternoon in March 2014. We were about 50 miles from Paris, at my Grandmère’s (grandmother’s) farm. She lives in Paris, but she owns a Château and surrounding...

Read More

“I am sorry I slept for so long, Lumi.  I should have relieved you a couple of hours ago,” Joulupukki apologized as his head appeared through the door.  “Can I get anything for...

Read More

“Now, I would like to make you aware of my guests.”
     “Your guests?  Are they here?”  Seileach seemed very curious.
     “I'm sorry, but no. ...

Read More

All on a sudden getting awake in the morning, I got stunned seeing, the whole earth had become a great graveyard. Each house was, as it were, a grave. In that grave, all were whispering...

Read More

They made a smooth grounding outside of the stable behind Dyndoeth's cottage.  As they did Rådyrvokter heard them and came out of the stable to greet them.
     “It is good...

Read More

Strategically placed when raised 
Upwards
By your masterful and well 
Practiced hand.
To mingle with ever changing 
Skylines 
That frown down with arrogant 
Scowls
Upon the indigenous populous of 
This just and tolerant island.
To study and pontificate upon...

Read More

"No, I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
                        ...

Read More

Ramapo, New York, a small town
Was rural ... to say the least
Where simple folks lived a simple life
And most residents could rest in peace 

But, tonight was prom night and
The summer evening was unusually cool
As...

Read More

(or swing sets and monkey bars)

A pitch perfect spring day
such as today April 8th, 2022
within quaint hamlet 
of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
in close proximity within mind's eye
to Lake Wobegon, Minnesota
finds me reminiscing...

When, scads of light years ago
(half...

Read More

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How simple are the circles in which life turns
How strange are its tangled fingers
Through intricate woven tapestry burns
The wonder that yet lingers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They made their way to the mercantile using the paths less traveled, Lumi hiding...

Read More