Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Carry On Tuesday: Neither a Borrower nor a Lender Be

The sun is just starting
to smear butter
on the turning
leaves as my students

prepare modern
interpretations
of Shakespeare’s
“Neither a borrower

nor a lender be” speech.
I’ve divided the scene
into three sections:
one where Laertes

is giving Ophelia advice
about Hamlet, two where
Polonius is giving
Laertes advice

about living, and three
where Polonius is
grilling Ophelia
about her relationship

with Hamlet. I tell
the kids to have fun
with it, pretend it’s
happening today.

How would these situations
play out in the 21st century?
I roam around the room
as they practice

keeping an eye on them
and on the progress
of the sun now filling
the cup of each leaf

with lemonade. When
they’re ready, the groups
begin their presentations.
Laertes warns his sister

that Hamlet will never
marry her and he’s just
using her. Polonius
mangles his bits of advice

until nobody knows what
the heck he’s talking about.
I try to stay focused
but the sun, scampering,

now, through the underbrush
is drawing my eyes away.
Finally, the last group
heads to the front of the room.

Ophelia perches on the edge
of a table, legs swinging.
Polonius paces in front of her.
“So, Ophelia,” he says. “Are you

and Hamlet doing the no-pants
dance? The room erupts
in hoots. I can’t keep from
laughing, too. The sun winks.

16 comments:

vivinfrance said...

That one is absolutely hilarious! The minds of the young.....

Daydreamertoo said...

LOL

Shakespeare would have chuckled at that one, too! LOL
Smart arse kids these days.
Love the way you wove the sun and its play into all of this, lovely.

Laurie Kolp said...

Love this one!

Unknown said...

What a great ending, my favorite is the descriptions of the sun throughout this though. I love ther opening stanza where it's buttering the leaves... fabulous:-)

Medhini said...

A hilarious account... young minds are really beautiful..

Nara Malone said...

Love the end. I was alwaus the kid daydreaming out the window. It's nice to know it happens to teachers too.

Mike Patrick said...

I used to think one had to be insane to be a teacher, but more and more, I wish I could teach. Your poem is one of the reasons why.

Regina said...

"teach",poet,hormones.....one of life's perfect pattets
love this Linda...publish soon?

Mary said...

Truly inspired. IO loved the concluaion....and your writing. Thsnk you.

Mary said...

Sorry about all the typos in my last comment. My mind races sometimes. Your poem brightened my day, made me laugh aloud. I like that!

Anonymous said...

Chuckle :)

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Linda's Poems