I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

23 April 2016

Saving the Bard

(If you could save only one of Shakespeare’s works…?)

Could I save only one sonnet –
‘Marriage of true minds’ would it be
or the sweet, ‘Shall I compare thee’?
Well, if I am really honest,
I’d choose both. You can bet on it.

The same for the plays, I expect.
Which? Romeo and Juliet,
Hamlet, the Merchant of Venice,
King Lear, Macbeth or The Tempest?
Save one, and all others regret!


At 'imaginary garden with real toads' we are invited to Tip Our Hats to the Bard – and the question in my subtitle is posed. 

 At dVerse we are asked to try the Décima form. 

I decided to combine both. Result: a most un-Shakespearian example of doggerel! (Occupational hazard of doing the April 'poem a day' thing.)
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20 comments:

  1. Gemma Wiseman23 April 2016 at 19:38

    Shakespeare has left us a minefield of gems... What to choose... what to choose...Love the quandry effect...

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  2. Kerry O'Connor23 April 2016 at 20:01

    I could not choose, myself. Though one sonnet, I'd take "Let me not...", one play, Macbeth, one character, Hamlet, one line, "the...dog will have his day".

    Thanks for this light-hearted tip of the hat.

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  3. kaykuala23 April 2016 at 22:15

    There are so many to put a finger on to choose. It is sacrilege to pick one from the other. You said it right Rosemary!

    Hank

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  4. Gayle Walters Rose23 April 2016 at 23:40

    Truly it would be almost impossible to choose a single favorite, Rosemary. I love how you incorporated one prompt into the other...thank you for giving the decima a try and doing a wonderful job.

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  5. Sanaa Rizvi24 April 2016 at 00:06

    Oh yes, there are simply so many gems to choose from :D love your response to the prompt. Beautifully executed.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. Susan24 April 2016 at 00:56

    Haha! I would save a comedy, probably As You Like It, as it has the best lines ever about poetry. And they go to the heart of "Real Toads":

    "Sweet are the uses of adversity,
    Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
    Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
    And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
    Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
    Sermons in stones, and good in every thing."

    Act 2, scene 1, 12–17

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade24 April 2016 at 10:31

      Oh, well chosen, Susan! I didn't manage to fit As You Like It into the decima but it is one of my favourites, which I have loved since I was a schoolgirl. Great quote, too.

      Delete
  7. brudberg24 April 2016 at 01:06

    Oh I could never ever choose... especially since I think you never know what poem or play would touch your heart tomorrow..

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  8. Myrna R.24 April 2016 at 01:40

    I agree with everyone here. It's too hard to pick from such a vast collection of genius art.

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  9. Outlawyer24 April 2016 at 01:44

    My view exactly--very charming--thanks, Rosemary! k.

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  10. De Jackson24 April 2016 at 03:18

    Great voice in this, Rosemary!

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  11. Bekkie Sanchez24 April 2016 at 03:40

    If you could save just one?? Too hard to imagine! Skillfully written my friend!

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  12. Unknown24 April 2016 at 06:53

    And a great bit of "unshakesperean doggerel" it is! Loved this piece.

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  13. Mark Kerstetter24 April 2016 at 08:12

    I couldn't pick either.

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  14. C.C.24 April 2016 at 10:53

    The 'occupational hazard' is working well for you....loved this mashup of prompts :-)

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  15. Anonymous24 April 2016 at 12:48

    glad we don't have to choose. love what you've written!

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  16. hedgewitch24 April 2016 at 21:43

    A difficult choice. But memory will pick for you what it decides to keep, I find.

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  17. Marian25 April 2016 at 01:05

    Nice, nice... and I don't think I can live without A Midsummer Night's Dream either.

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  18. Hannah26 April 2016 at 05:16

    Excellent titles!

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  19. The Bizza30 April 2016 at 15:44

    Hamlet. I'm all about a revenge-fantasy gone awry.

    Loved this poem!

    ReplyDelete

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