Inspired By William Shakespeare Poem by Gayathri Seetharam

Inspired by William Shakespeare
-Gayathri B. Seetharam
I made a bit of progress with reading The Merchant of Venice
And came to the portion where Bassanio had to choose from
The three caskets of gold, silver and lead,
A life-like portrait of Portia which would ensure that he got her as his prize catch;

Bassanio while outwardly examining the golden casket
Says that ornament is like the guiled shore
To a most dangerous sea,
Like the beauteous scarf veiling an Indian Beauty
And after a couple more lines, passes by to the silver casket;

He examines the silver casket outwardly and
Says that it is pale and common drudge
And my book says in its notes that it is because currency
Is made of silver but I say that it could be because silverware
Is highly priced as tea sets;

Bassanio then opens the leaden casket and sees Portia's portrait
And exclaims that no demi-god hath come so near creation
Obviously implying that it was very true to life
And adds that her eyes which seem to be moving
And which were riding his balls, must not be changed
And goes on to add among other things that her severed lips
Had sugar breath in between them;

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am an Indian beauty of the Canadian nation
And host teas and dinners
And it appears that I am riding PM Justin Trudeau's balls to publish and pay me
And he has dug in his heels;

But do remember that in the leaden casket was Portia's portrait
And I, dear reader, shall draw your attention to my and PM Trudeau's portrait
And it can be said to be true that he is looking in my direction in a CANADA car
And it remains to be seen whether he is going to recognise the hardworking beaver in me.