Red Fox is a totem being,
for in true wisdom, he is seeing,
though in dreams, an image fleeting;
it bears repeating, it bears repeating.
Reminds us all, we have to laugh,
have fun, play, be a little bit chaff,
though some may call you, old Falstaff;
you’re not riffraff, you’re not riffraff.
Late at night, when old moon beams,
red fox will come into your dreams,
he can lead you to great schemes;
wise guide it seems, wise guide it seems.
Red fox wisdom upon dream scroll,
says keep your eyes upon your goal,
while with humor you can grow;
you’ll become whole, you’ll become whole.
For in humor, wisdom is found,
never be in sadness found,
his advice will keep you sound;
great things abound, great things abound.
I wore my leather jacket for the midnight crawl;
Howled a sonnet at the rising moon.
In a comedy of errors, let the engine stall;
Told my baby she’d be rescued soon.
I’m gonna rock like Romeo; roll your bones.
Gonna rock and roll with literary overtones.
I took an upstage lead with my soliloquy,
Emoting bold intentions, hand in glove,
Seducing her to be, or maybe not to be,
With soft iambic cadences of love.
I’m gonna rock like Hamlet; roll like old King Lear.
Gonna rock you as you like it then I’ll chug a beer.
I went about love’s labors with midsummer’s nerve;
Pledged sweet nothings without much ado.
Traced the upswept contour of her cashmere curve;
Went downstairs to tame her naughty shrew.
I’m gonna rock like Falstaff when the Wolfman howls,
His Elizabethan accent full of shifting vowels.
I’m gonna be the rebel at the high school dance;
Treat the merry wives of Windsor to a group romance.
What would William Shakespeare have to say of Trump's actions in this tragedy
play? Would he liken Trump to King Lear, consumed by vanity, loyalty and fear? Is Trump yet another Sir John Falstaff, a great buffoon, good for a laugh? "Double, Double toil and trouble", will the unseating of Trump leave this nation in a rubble? Please Mr. Shakespeare help us quell these uncertain times, oh pray do tell?
Avoirdupois
The endomorph enjoys our affection
as the comic figure of tradition.
Friar Tuck, Falstaff, and Old Toby
recall rotund revels and ribaldry.
Devils are always portrayed as thin.
the clown invariably has a double chin.
Unlike the hero, who's always victorious,
his wind and walk are somewhat laborious.
Though he's never very heroic,
who honestly ever loved a stoic?
Confronted by his conviviality
cynics think rather jealously:
'It's just that unlike the lean
he's much too slow to be mean.'
Villanelle: French Gourmand once sailed to the Isle of Ewe
Dedicated to the great French actor, Off Course!
French Gourmand once sailed to the Isle of Ewe
Must you invite high breeds to the Hebrides
To maggis shellfish wine said: I love you!
Starved Loch Ness Monster kept well out of view
For this Gourmet eats even monster breeds
French Gourmand once sailed to the Isle of Ewe
Medieval monarchs gulped innerns – rest threw
To the serfs lords ladies dogs and hybrids
To maggis shellfish wine said: I love you!
French Gourmand let Scots talk their tartans through
Venison loins he carved out for his needs
French Gourmand once sailed to the Isle of Ewe
Goths Visigoths Vikings Normans or Dieu*
Falstaff nose and paunch hide much actor’s deeds
To maggis shellfish wine said: I love you!
Eiffel Tower Louvre Versailles nothing new
Mountain Man kept apart Scylla Charibdis
French Gourmand once sailed to the Isle of Ewe
To maggis shellfish wine said: I love you!
• Dieu: God, but French pronunciation, please!
He might take exception.
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2015
Poor Prince Hal, just wanted a pal, a friend
Someone to drink and laugh with til the end
Pawning all his hopes on white lies so far
Spending all his coins at Quickly's bar
Playing pranks on Falstaff to pass the time
Jolly as the youth, but well past his prime
Wagered then lost in the field, all bets found
Til death do they part and in friendship bound
But a king has no need for washed up knights
Against his own will, the young prince now fights
And Hal then forsakes his friend John the Clown
As King Henry, he now takes up the crown
--
My ode to Henry IV by Shakespeare
LISTENING
it’s a given
old people are forgetful
every one says so
most old people will listen
and so they are infected
when one gets older
one naturally slows down
every one says so
most old people will listen
and their minds are infected
these few listened too
deaf beethoven wrote his ninth
einstein listened
verdi – 80 – wrote falstaff
they called it miraculous
the old just wither
they just wait around to die
listen to the crowd
some greats, too were listening
but it’s what they listened to
LISTENING
it’s a given
old people are forgetful
every one says so
most old people will listen
and so they are infected
when one gets older
one naturally slows down
every one says so
most old people will listen
and their minds are infected
these few listened too
deaf beethoven wrote his ninth
einstein listened
verdi – 80 – wrote falstaff
they called it miraculous
the old just wither
they just wait around to die
listen to the crowd
some greats, too were listening
but it’s what they listened to
LISTENING
it’s a given
old people are forgetful
every one says so
most old people will listen
and so they are infected
when one gets older
one naturally slows down
every one says so
most old people will listen
and their minds are infected
these few listened too
deaf beethoven wrote his ninth
einstein listened
verdi – 80 – wrote falstaff
they called it miraculous
the old just wither
they just wait around to die
listen to the crowd
some greats, too were listening
but it’s what they listened to
My tongue is loosened by champagne but I speak as I do everything
for all the world to know
That I am old more the pity and my white hairs do witness it
if good food wine and beer be a fault then god help the wicked
You call me a fool and a sinner maybe but we are not finished yet
but so are you everything that I am
He didn’t care for Wilde,
And Chaucer was ‘alright,’
But quoted from The Bard
At morning, noon and night.
He loved the characters,
The funny and bizarre -
And fat old Falstaff was
His favourite by far.
He liked Malvolio,
And never tired of Hal,
He felt for Timon too -
And would have been his pal.
He lived for Will Shakespeare -
His name could make him smile.
I guess he’s not alone -
His words make life worthwhile!
That he is old more the pity
His white hairs do witness it
If food, wine and beer be a fault
Then God help the wicked
But for a sweet Jack Falstaff
Kind Jack Falstaff
True Jack Falstaff
Valiant Jack Falstaff
Therefore more valiant
Being as he is old Jack Falstaff
Banish not him from your friendship
Banish plump Jack
Then banish all the world
My apologises to Shakespeare !
An adaption from Henry IV
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