A Tale Like Any Other
A Tale Like Any Other
The day that she and Shakespeare came to meet
Was such a one as time is spare to greet
Two heads down staring at two feet
Coming opposing directions through a lonely street
The ground was strewn with dung and one was ware
The other disconsolate forgot to care
Bemused and introspective both did share
Oblivion to the weather surprisingly fair
Leather breeches squeaked and made a folding pop
While petticoats rustled softly in a lacy froth
And onward to collision passed a haughty fop
The two with destined purpose moved without a nod
Past the ribbon sellers and the monger’s wife
A gypsy tarot reader asked a lowly price
A little child playing with a rusty knife
And man in stocks weeping mercy for his life
But none of this was seen or given half a glance
All being far more common than a game of chance
She and he driven in a foot ward dance
Undoubtedly into the way of high romance
Around one corner then the next was found
As a ship fearing plunder will times run aground
As stars hidden from the eye will soon be found
Two unmet lovers drawn to where their hearts were bound
He had left his Rosalind in angst that soon
And plotted his or hers, knew not, a gruesome doom
But left it off still brooding like a swain under the moon
Singing bitter regrets with a mourner's croon
She’d tumbled out of house with a bridal fear
Having met the groom that morning and his lurid sneer
His face was not a one she would like hold dear
And went a stroll glooming in a humour queer
Would she for the cloister choose to make a run
To be a Bride of Christ as a wimpled nun
Would he find his muse in all the sour dun
His Aphrodite clothed more golden than the sun
The answers to the musings lay but for a pace
When they might bump and falter in their hurried race
Away from the past or from imminent disgrace
And catch to steady and hold turning face to face
Before an indrawn breath could be expelled
They knocked against each other almost felled
He grasped for her and her tumble quelled
Until their gazes met and senses failed
Of not touch or sight or sound do I speak
But the logic of the mind and knees gone weak
For all the inspiration love can seek
Was held there in his hands profoundly sweet
And verse broke through his soul as the dawn
When for purchase he had given her was won
Her smile of gratitude the like to none
And he a man of pride was left undone
As for she, she quivered as a leaf
Prayed he did not see her true relief
Left off the future’s promise of sure grief
And knew a moment of hope beyond belief
They stood there longer than a maid should dare
But for how and why she did not hear
Encircled in his arms, time lost, they fared
More well than they soon would when arms were bare
In instinct primal bent and touched her lips to his
Then pulling back and humbled craving more of this
Found her moving forward to another bliss
And surrendered to the tenderest of probing kiss
He knew her for a maiden in experiment
Not knowing the lust of man would grow intent
Following soon, if followed know her virtue rent
But he upon her honor broke his natural bent
Instead he gave his hand, took her for a walk
Gave his name and occupation in easy talk
Though his heart was hammering a broken knock
In his breast he felt it counting down to stop
A sideways glance under lashes dark
A deep upwelling in her struck a spark
Or note so pure he heard it in the dark
Of star crossed lovers lost to cupid’s lark
She knew her lineage of one refined
Nobility that never crossed the line
Of cast or creed she knew she was defined
By parentage and marriage as designed
And he a player and a playwright low
She had witnessed play and could bestow
His genius not a joining time could show
Though her heart for him should swell to bloom and grow
Though the street was not so lonesome now
Both knew within that lane a fruitless vow
Foreboding in the vision of a skinny cow
Marching to the slaughter being turned from plow
A silence deafened to the plight of man
A mystery devoid of any plan
A desperate prayer not voiced for fear of sin
Knew them without reprieve or hope for pardon
Her hand released with kiss imprint upon it
Stepping loosely back loathing the moment
She turned with wistful grace tying her bonnet
And he to home to write for her a sonnet.
“Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate;
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
–William Shakespeare
To be continued...
Devah