A Belated Poem for Will Shakespeare

(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