Ophelia In Three Acts For Linda Clayton Poem by Daniel Brick

Ophelia In Three Acts For Linda Clayton

Rating: 5.0


I
My mother fussed over me.
As she combed my long golden hair,
she chanted snatches of old lauds,
especially about a princess who fell
in love with a prince, and could no longer
tell happiness from sadness. The Queen
fussed over me as well, dressing me
in clothes from the royal wardrobe,
then handing me a mirror, so I could
see myself raised beyond my station.
I accepted all of this with gracious
charm, as was expected of me. They laughed
and whisopered about the bride-bed
covered in sweet flowers. I was confused
and frightened. Prince Hamlet and myself?
He will be King someday, married
to a foreign Queen to seal an alliance,
and I will always be a lady-in-waiting.
But still the Queen and my mother talked
in hushed voices about an impossible
future, and promised me beauty and power
will seal their virtues in a marriage
of true minds. The Queen touches my cheek
softly, and my mother looks on in a confusion
of happiness and sadness...

II
When my mother died of fever
during a summer hot spell, my father
spent the final week of her suffering
bedded with a court prostitute. My brother
left for a fencing tournament two days
after her burial. All the tears shed
were shed by me. But the beauteous Queen
looked haggard with grief at losing
her friend, and Prince Hamlet honored me,
offering his hand and guiding me through
the court ceremonies. He spoke the sweetest
words of consolation in my hearing only.
In his presence I could not tell my happiness
from my sadness. Before he left for Wittenburg,
the Prince gave me tenders of his affection.
I believed his heart was true, I believed
he loved me, I believed... I loved him.

III
What is this force called fate?
Why must we stumble down such a stony path?
I had envisioned a primrose path I would walk
with an easy gait toward happiness. It was not
meant to be. Rumors of foreign invasion roiled
the court; charges of murder dogged the King.
The Queen herself, bereft and helpless, succumbed
to mute grief. And the Prince's noble mind,
blasted by madness and revenge, abandoned all sweet thoughts... In the end, I was alone with loss. I retrieved
the broken pieces of my life, and assembled
a new life, simple, honest, true. I survived.
Prince Hamlet's ghost will not haunt me.
In the distance I hear the heavy wheels
of fate rolling past me. I am my own self,
steady in hope, I await the return of a happiness
free of sadness....

Sunday, May 22, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: literature
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
This poem was inspired by a painting, OPHELIA, by Linda Clayton.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bharati Nayak 29 May 2016

Wow- -What a beautiful write! How through this poem we come to understand the characters from Shakeapear's play.The emotional state of a lady with an expectation of marrying prince Hamlet. goes through three stages - -First when there was confused state of happiness and sadness, second when she could not tell her happiness from sadness and lastly when she was awaiting a return of a happiness free of sadness. In the last stage she was getting freedom.Her happiness was no more dependent on others' kindness or sympathy.Thanks for sharing the marvelous write.

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Susan Williams 22 May 2016

Gasp! ! ! ! ! Daniel, you took Shakespeare on! ! ! And you not only survived, you astonished. You stand side by side with the Great Bard himself and I believe he would have been charmed and excited by this. I know I am. What an intriguing thing you have done, Now my head is swirling with questions and wonders. Absolutely the top-notch writing that I have come to expect from you. I wish I could be as learned as you in commenting but I am still gasping in astonishment and delight and, yes, envy! 10000000000000000000000000000000++++++++++

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