I don't remember what I did, it's true,
the day before I fell in love with you.
I guess I might've been attending Shakespeare class
lamenting with Professor Pendergrass
the fate of Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague.
When last the Angels come to take me home
I'll pause in sheltered memories I leave
and peacefully my mind will surely roam
within the quiet calm that they conceive.
Your lair and guarded threshold beckoned me,
though hidden well behind tradition's door
and wrapped within your Mother's wistful pleas,
still, couldn't hide the heart I so adored.
Much like the fabled Montague of old,
I dared the very doorstep where you slept
- in kindred sharing laughed with truths you told
and gently swept the happy tears you wept.
The twilight glows upon what love begets;
forever you remain my Capulet ...
Montague Middleton’s matronly mother made marvellous munchy meringues
Montague Middleton’s most massive midriff made many a menu mistake
Montague Middleton met many maidens; Mother made mincemeat of most
Montague Middleton’s mother maintained, “Men mustn’t marry Miss ‘Fake’.”
Montague Middleton met Molly Milton, many men ‘met’ Molly more
Montague Middleton married Melissa; so many mad moans Molly made
Montague Middleton’s most massive mansion made more modest mansions mundane
Montague Middleton moved Molly in, making Molly both mistress and maid
Montague Middleton’s missus made many mouthwatering munchies
Montague Middleton’s missus made Monty’s mouth moisten most days
Montague Middleton’s missus met Molly, mentioning marital meddling
Montague Middleton’s mischievous mistress mocked Melissa’s malaise
So:
Montague Middleton murdered his missus
Montague Middleton married his mistress
But:
Montague Middleton made a mistake
For Montague Middleton’s mistress
Can’t bake
Montague mouse wants to purchase a hat
“Why do you need that,” asked milliner cat
Montague replied, “It’s so that I can marry”
I must wear a nice hat for when I wed Barry”
“Barry told me that he won’t leave the house
If I don’t wear a titfer,” said Montague mouse
So please create a rainbow hat – it mustn’t be grey
And I’ll wear it with gay pride on our wedding day!
The wedding hat’s embellished with feathers of pink
An apple, an orange and trimmed with soft lilac mink!
Lonely broken hearts, in stride
Lady Montague ---
She drank to life awaiting death
in runs Majesty's breath
never speaking of where she's been
Hamlet fed up leaves the scene,
as Captain Black bends his knee
for the Queen who embraces Mr.
Beam in Marches ferociously
little Putin -- bombing everyone.
Lenin looks up as a flock o' geese
inspecting the sun and screams,
"Russia's end so soon!"
Spider Man sinks his silk
upon the violent stupid tongue
arising from the ground says
invisible man,
"who tried butting me while I went
down upon wonder woman!"
Humanity's self-demise!
:: 04.12.2022 ::
There you're my Romeo, finally here
So, away I let my last pearl of tear
In the coffin we held our hands staying near
For my love, death is not to be fear
Eh my love, isn't this place dear?
A Capulet and a Montague, it was our fate
With swords our families shared their hate
But you and me dreamed of a love date
The poison was a heal, what I ate
Finally, God brought us here, we aren't late
A lover you were, between the fight
So your heart love with filled was light
You glanced at the balcony to see me at night
"Juliet is the sun" said your sight
We both are now here, with an angel flight
I danced with you, wearing a ball gown
Into your love, you see, I drown
Towards our love, I saw my father frown
We left the feudal who wore the crown
Cannot they still understand love, see the earth down
In front of Christ, as husband and wife we flourished
Oft, they thought our love isn't distinguished
So, from Verona were you banished
Time passed, but our love never vanished
Here, in heaven, Romeo and Juliet isn't finished
When last the Angels come to take me home
I'll pause in sheltered memories I leave
and peacefully my mind will surely roam
within the quiet calm that they conceive.
Your lair and guarded threshold beckoned me,
though hidden well behind tradition's door
and wrapped within your Mama's wistful pleas,
still, couldn't hide the heart I so adored.
Much like the fabled Montague of old,
I dared the very doorstep where you slept
- in kindred sharing laughed with truths you told
and gently swept the happy tears you wept.
The twilight glows upon what love begets;
forever you remain my Capulet ...
Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, RHA (27 November 1878 – 29 September 1931), was an Irish artist who worked mainly in London. Orpen was a fine draughtsman and a popular, commercially successful, painter of portraits for the well-to-do in Edwardian society, though many of his most striking paintings are self-portraits.
His painting inspired this small verse
Brexit Sonnet No.9
‘Star Flagged Lovers’
Here we stand, families joined by fate,
To stop a parting that’s not such sweet sorrow.
Our newest stars, crossed by Brexit’s gate,
Bring us together in common cause, not quarrel.
So play not with traditions and family rights,
Play not the part of jester, fool or knave,
Be not stupid, crass or fighting fights,
For stupidity proffers but that tragic grave.
No plague on all our houses must we see.
Do not by death bury thy parents’ strife,
But by life, rise up together, strong and free;
No biting thumbs or loss of lover’s life.
Support our star flagged lovers whatever your clan,
Be it Montague, Capulet or any other realm of man.
©Keith Murphy
SOLILOQUY AND SILHOUETTE
Soliloquy and silhouette, a lively dance,
A sideways glance, such dalliance of form.
In Verona, this jester must be serious. Stance -
Shoulders back, feet set, just right. The storm -
Soliloquy and silhouette, in perfect pirouette.
A swordfight ensues, a riveting Capulet and Montague feud,
As Romeo’s ear, inclines, to the unabashed harkening of Juliette.
At the balcony’s base, he’s starstruck. She’s her lover’s only food.
Her fair skin camouflaged in dark shadow.
The beauty of the heart pounds out words.
Time tolls for bitter foes, who will reap a sorrowful low.
A family feud - a causal sacrifice of dove-like birds.
Silhouette of two, carried through the darkest night.
Mourners gather in the emptiness of absinthian gloam.
A rebirth - two families freed from their shackled sight.
Too late for angels, so far from their home sweet home.
9/10/2017
Silhouette Contest
William Spencer Montague Sprat
(why on earth they called him that)
lived a life of luxury
suited to autocracy.
T'was true that Lady Sprat his mum
with a true Lord had had her fun
and bore a son of noble blood
as any Lord and Lady should.
But alas our Lady Sprat
had acted like a little prat
for she was not betrothed to he
that boosted up her family tree.
This Lord was married to another
(chosen by his own sweet mother)
and though his Lady had fair grace
she couldn't keep his randy pace.
So poor young William S M Sprat
was not pure blood and more than that,
the Lord he thought was his dear dad
didn't know that he'd been had.
But Lady Sprat, she knew her game
and even gave her son that name
although it made him sound a prat
it gave him heritage of Sprat.
So if your name puts you to shame
although your parents are to blame
don't be a prat, just bear the pain
remember Sprat and don't complain!
Ivor G Davies
Juliet, please come to the window
And tell me that there is no other
Romeo stop acting so crazy
You'll wake up my father and mother.
Crazy? I'm crazy about you
And I'm hoping you feel the same
Come down, we'll walk in the garden
And forget about our last names
Romeo it's not that easy
To turn your back on tradition
I love you with all of my heart
Don't put me in this position.
My Juliet what's in a name
when you and I are together.
We're both young lets give it a try
I've looked, there is no one better.
Juliet you're a Capulet
And I a simple Montague.
Our stars are not in alignment
But that's always going to be true.
Juliet, love is the answer
We really should not hesitate
Let's join our families together
And just leave the rest up to fate.
Oh Juliet! A memory of a love long lost in vain…
thy bridal song, a dirge of darkened madrigal becomes.
Yet thought of you, for me, brings more to mind of hate than pain
and all because you stole away the one who was my Love.
Whilst all the rest swoon ‘Juliet’, their precious turtle dove,
I left my love to serve my Lord, but thou – a concubine!
for Romeo forsook his first and foremost, Rosaline.
Let none be fooled! So cold and cruel thy wicked heart disguised,
behind a face of snow white youth and eyes of clearest blue
resides a witch, a sorceress; I swear it, though surmised.
Thy tender lips with somber kiss bore poison drops of dew
to steal my one and only love, my son of Montague!
Unfair the pair in Heaven will forever live in death,
whilst I, without my Romeo, yet he has Juliet!
*written from the point of view of Rosaline, Romeo's initial love interest before laying eyes on Juliet...
Your father’s words agree I’ve passed his test
Yes, I confess, I’m viewed as idiot
for bowing, but our future I’ve addressed -
Now, I have met and won my Capulet.
Ah, Juliet; my dear sweet Juliet.
Agreement’s done; and now I’ve come to claim
my prize. My love, you gain my princely name.
Countless the times I’ve come here nerves on edge.
Two tiring years, have passed. Your statuette
now speaking from the porch your solemn pledge
reminds the world – we kept the rule he set.
Ah Juliet; my dear sweet Juliet
Verona hears announcement of our vows -
I, Paris, take you dearest as my spouse.
Who’s this approaching porch on bended knee?
arriving late with horse and chariot.
It’s Romeo of Montague we see
but what he finds is just a silhouette
of Juliet; his long gone Juliet.
His kiss of death, imagination’s joke
I, Paris passed and gained the marriage yoke.
In whispered silence two hearts run in league
Reluctant each to raise the wakeful mist
By mantle of night and moonlight’s sweet mystique
While forbidden fate hides a lovers’ tryst
The moon espies what hides in gentile guise
Though fate forbid a love one can’t resist
To live, to love and chance a heart’s demise
While dreams hearken to this lovers’ tryst
Bright moon, stand fast! Pray, ‘yond dawn, be stayed!
For Juliet, knowing well they’ll e’er desist
Wills not this blessèd night be here waylaid
For fear this dream remain a lovers’ tryst
Her surrendered heart belongs to Montague
The ‘morn will show if his own love be true
Christopher Thor Britt
Motif: Romantic
Sub Categories
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