Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Love's Lament

To thee I send this written ambassage
By legal courier, registered mail
To show thee worthy of thy sweet respect

I cannot blame thee for my love
Thou usest with my best man
My second cousin, the pool boy, et. al.

I hated you
When it would have taken less courage
And been far less expense to love

Were I hard-favoured, foul or wrinkled old
Then mightest thou pause, for then I were not for thee
But having no defects, why dost abhor me?

I do forgive thy robb’ry, gentle thief
Of my home, my pension and full custody of the kids
Not all of whom appear like me

But I forbid thee one most heinous crime
Theft of our season tickets to the theatre
Kill me with spites, yet leave these alone

I feel shame that I was so innocent
All the things I had learned
Had been wasted


~ J. D. Mackenzie, Will Shakespeare & Charles Bukowski



Sources

Shakespeare
Sonnet 19
Sonnet 40
Venus and Adonis
Sonnet 26

Bukowski
As the Sparrow
My First Affair

7 comments:

  1. Great combination of ancient and modern to lament the age old.

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  2. So clever and such fun! Meshing a great tale from Will and Charles. Imagine taking the theatre tickets. Of course you don't have any defects. Everyone knows that. Last stanza is a little sad. Thanks for another tartan triumph.
    Arriverdeci

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  3. Absolutely terrific - I am amazed at how comprehensible you have made this motley collection of words.

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  4. Quite lovely, JD. The mix of old fashioned and modern speech doesn't jar. Fancy, even with the pool boy!

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  5. JDM
    you have meshed this together wonderfully!
    Pamela

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  6. The third stanza was my fave. I love the Bukowski brusqueness combined with Shakespeare's overflowing romantic antics. Great job combining the two for a roller-coaster of emotions.

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  7. Oh, bravo! A brilliant job of combining two completely different styles of writing so that a smooth and seamless poem has been created!

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