On Shakespeare's Birthday Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

How often we are caught in illusions
cannot distinguish star from star
planet from planet
we think we know where we are
but we lose our way
we think we know ourselves
but what can we say
when meadows to quagmire turn
are we bewitched?
Have we learned anything useful
Today is the birthday of William Shakespeare
Who often visited the theme:
How to untangle the dreamer from the dream
Or are we just
A play within a Play.
who find the ghosts
Have led us quite astray.
mary angela douglas 23 april 2024