Richard Epstein
@rhepstein.bsky.social
Denver poet. Evidence at rhepoems.blogspot.com.
Reposted by Richard Epstein
Gheeraerts: Thomas, can you hold the helmet like a regular person?
Thomas: …
Thomas: …
2/2 Captain Thomas Lee: Ready for combat in Ireland in 1594 but seems to have forgotten his nether hose & shoes, alas! Still got painted by Marcus Gheeraerts, whose day is today.
January 19, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Gheeraerts: Thomas, can you hold the helmet like a regular person?
Thomas: …
Thomas: …
Were I a dramatist, I should put this line in the mouths of so many people, starting with—never mind. It's too early to be mean-spirited, esp. on Dr King's birthday. (But if I had an office and it was oval and it had a cabinet in it....)
’Tis time I were chok’d with a piece of toasted cheese.
January 19, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Were I a dramatist, I should put this line in the mouths of so many people, starting with—never mind. It's too early to be mean-spirited, esp. on Dr King's birthday. (But if I had an office and it was oval and it had a cabinet in it....)
January 17, 2026 at 12:04 PM
"Odetta as Buster the dog," says the casting info. You've got to admire an actor who can pull that off, seamlessly crossing gender lines.
January 15, 2026 at 12:18 PM
"Odetta as Buster the dog," says the casting info. You've got to admire an actor who can pull that off, seamlessly crossing gender lines.
I do not sell myself cheaply. I know what I'm worth. You can have a distich for a reuben, but for a quatrain, you'll have to add a side of potato salad and a kosher dill pickle.
—Professiona Poet
—Professiona Poet
January 14, 2026 at 2:27 PM
I do not sell myself cheaply. I know what I'm worth. You can have a distich for a reuben, but for a quatrain, you'll have to add a side of potato salad and a kosher dill pickle.
—Professiona Poet
—Professiona Poet
"Pain perdu" is a better name than "French toast." It makes me think of Aunt Jemima and Proust at the same time.
January 12, 2026 at 12:10 PM
"Pain perdu" is a better name than "French toast." It makes me think of Aunt Jemima and Proust at the same time.
The penitent man shall pass, says Dr Jones. He might have added that it helps to have done the assigned reading.
January 11, 2026 at 2:50 PM
The penitent man shall pass, says Dr Jones. He might have added that it helps to have done the assigned reading.
What I like most about "The Night Manager" series is that the hero is Loki and the villain is Dr House.
January 11, 2026 at 2:04 PM
What I like most about "The Night Manager" series is that the hero is Loki and the villain is Dr House.
Old age in a god is green and tough, says Vergil. Kermit says that applies to frogs, too.
January 9, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Old age in a god is green and tough, says Vergil. Kermit says that applies to frogs, too.
Capsule review:
The "Tron" sequel is tedious, something one would never have said of the original. Tediousness is a pretty fatal flaw in a movie.
The "Tron" sequel is tedious, something one would never have said of the original. Tediousness is a pretty fatal flaw in a movie.
January 8, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Capsule review:
The "Tron" sequel is tedious, something one would never have said of the original. Tediousness is a pretty fatal flaw in a movie.
The "Tron" sequel is tedious, something one would never have said of the original. Tediousness is a pretty fatal flaw in a movie.
An early mention of heavy-metal groups? How about Longfellow—"the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands."
January 6, 2026 at 12:16 PM
An early mention of heavy-metal groups? How about Longfellow—"the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands."
WS: You cannot trust a hoary-headed Frost.
Frost: Say what now?
Frost: Say what now?
January 2, 2026 at 11:39 AM
WS: You cannot trust a hoary-headed Frost.
Frost: Say what now?
Frost: Say what now?
I'm sorry, but this dustbin of history is full. You'll have to consign that somewhere else.
January 1, 2026 at 12:53 PM
I'm sorry, but this dustbin of history is full. You'll have to consign that somewhere else.
This morning I was reminded that in Eliot's poem "Salvages" is pronounced like "assuages." The reminder was written on a piece of foolscap stuffed into a milk bottle and left on my front porch. I had to extract it with a tweezers.
January 1, 2026 at 12:40 PM
This morning I was reminded that in Eliot's poem "Salvages" is pronounced like "assuages." The reminder was written on a piece of foolscap stuffed into a milk bottle and left on my front porch. I had to extract it with a tweezers.
The NYT uses "Quran," rather than "Koran." Is there some ideological preference at work here? Is it more linguistically accurate? Historically?
January 1, 2026 at 11:55 AM
The NYT uses "Quran," rather than "Koran." Is there some ideological preference at work here? Is it more linguistically accurate? Historically?
What do I think of DJT? I think Calvin Coolidge, Millard Fillmore, and Rutherford B. Hayes look so good right now.
January 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM
What do I think of DJT? I think Calvin Coolidge, Millard Fillmore, and Rutherford B. Hayes look so good right now.
This morning's leading contender for Headline I Am Least Likely To Follow Up On is
Uncle Roger made the internet’s hottest noodle
but the day is young.
Uncle Roger made the internet’s hottest noodle
but the day is young.
December 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This morning's leading contender for Headline I Am Least Likely To Follow Up On is
Uncle Roger made the internet’s hottest noodle
but the day is young.
Uncle Roger made the internet’s hottest noodle
but the day is young.
Pursuant to Rule 59, C.R.C.P., you can file a motion for new tribulations; but I don't recommend it.
December 31, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Pursuant to Rule 59, C.R.C.P., you can file a motion for new tribulations; but I don't recommend it.
Today's Film Crit Advice:
Try to remember that it was "Little Orphant Annie," not "Orphan."
Try to remember that it was "Little Orphant Annie," not "Orphan."
December 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Today's Film Crit Advice:
Try to remember that it was "Little Orphant Annie," not "Orphan."
Try to remember that it was "Little Orphant Annie," not "Orphan."
—AI, what does "éteinte" mean?
—I have consulted Mr Python, who says it means his metabolic processes are now History! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!
—Fanks.
—I have consulted Mr Python, who says it means his metabolic processes are now History! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!
—Fanks.
December 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
—AI, what does "éteinte" mean?
—I have consulted Mr Python, who says it means his metabolic processes are now History! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!
—Fanks.
—I have consulted Mr Python, who says it means his metabolic processes are now History! He’s off the twig! He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!
—Fanks.
"Meek bears,/You fools of fortune," says Shakespeare, all because they lost by 4 points to the 49ers.
December 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
"Meek bears,/You fools of fortune," says Shakespeare, all because they lost by 4 points to the 49ers.
Reposted by Richard Epstein
Despite frequent remonstrations from digital archivists, Persephone never accepted that she could not photocopy a whole book in one go.
December 21, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Despite frequent remonstrations from digital archivists, Persephone never accepted that she could not photocopy a whole book in one go.
From the Beach Boys we learn that excitations are produced by good vibrations, which are the result of tremors, themselves the consequence of deep faults. Those may require years of counseling to resolve.
December 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
From the Beach Boys we learn that excitations are produced by good vibrations, which are the result of tremors, themselves the consequence of deep faults. Those may require years of counseling to resolve.
'Twas the week before Xmas, and all through the house,
The bottle was ebbing of The Famous Grouse.
The bottle was ebbing of The Famous Grouse.
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
'Twas the week before Xmas, and all through the house,
The bottle was ebbing of The Famous Grouse.
The bottle was ebbing of The Famous Grouse.