(He was 462 on Thursday)
Shaking Spears
Said the bard of Stratford: ‘All the world’s a stage’
With epic dramas acted out in every human age
In these interesting times, when the end seems nigh
To be, or not to be an optimistic guy?
Once the kings and noblemen had their jester fools
To play the impish trickster and flout the usual rules
But now in many territories the wise men have been purged
And in unholy union, king and fool have merged
Unleashing slings and arrows at random foreign foes
Pursuing outrageous fortune with overgrown tech bros
Blundering and gurning across the global stage
Tragedy and comedy and incoherent rage
So it is in lands afar beyond the setting sun
But on our precious sceptered isle, comfort there is none
Labour’s lost already not to mention love
While people beg in vain for relief from above
Once more unto the breach, my friends, every day’s a test
Then you settle down for your twelfth night without rest
Thinking of your mortgage, the petrol for your car
Cutting down on treats, like the odd Hamlet cigar
On this midsummer night (not quite!), the tempest of our times
Turns dreams into nightmares and dollars into dimes
All’s well that ends well sounds a little trite
But looking on the bright side, I suppose it just might!
Copyright Tom George 2026
Tom George 