Everyone Used To Be Royal
With Thanks and Respect to Eliot and His Prufrock)
I’m not Prince Hamlet
Nor ever was and
Horatio am I not.
Of Ophelia I can honestly attest
That her grace is not mine to arrest
The attention of the teeming lot.
Polonius would laugh to scorn
That I was ever like him born
To fumble syntax and bring a laugh
Of pity, empathy or contempt for truth
And Laertes’ rage misplaced an age
The Ghost I’m not, spoke right for sooth.
Guildenstern, Rosencrantz who matter more
Than no matter, can’t be me
Gertrude would not see me in her mirror
Upon the stage, nor Claudius come near me
While Hamlet turns the page.
Osric or the grave diggers would never see themselves
Reflected in my eyes where pools of water delve.
Am I backstage, a technician or perhaps director?
There’s no Deus ex Machina in “Hamlet”
Nor musician, painter, scene erector
Which I could contribute to this performance.
Could I be the rapier or foil
Brought out from hiding to despoil
The hopes and dreams of Denmark’s chance
At greatness in the Ruler’s glance?
No, not I nor potted plant collecting dust
Upstage amongst the bric brac to distract
The viewer’s eye, the watcher’s trust.
No, I am not the trapdoor even
For that is you between hell and heaven.
And among the audience you won’t find me
For I am not welcome in this or any act.
The players gather, take the stage
The watchers wither, weaken and age.
But I am not there it’s true
Unworthy of note, unknown to you.
About the Creator
Roy Stevens
Just one bad apple can spoil a beautiful basket. The toxins seep throughout and...
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (5)
I like the rhythm and feel of this one as I read it aloud. I also really appreciate the call backs to countless infamous literary characters and genius'. There's just something so concise and beautiful about the way this was constructed! Great work Roy!
There was style and elegance at work here. And the flow was pretty flawless. Great Read, my friend.
Now as an English teacher, I definitely enjoyed this one! Loved the creative continuation of the line from Prufrock and the references to all the Hamlet characters.
I enjoyed reading this, very interesting! Well done 👍
Oooh this is very interesting, reads like a real riddle. 🤔 🔍