Birthday Apology

William Shakespeare was born April 26, 1564

If all the world’s a stage,
and all the men are women,
myne eye be true, I gauge;
her beard doth need a trimmin’!

 

 

The Last Poet

Advanced in years
and bent in bone,
I shed no tears;
I walk alone.

There up ahead,
the door of death.
A moment’s dread—
I catch my breath.

Continue then
upon my way—
no words to pen;
no more to say.

No final rhyme;
my journey’s through.
I’m out of time
and so are you.

 

 

Poet For Hire

Sonnet?
I’m on it!

Haiku?
That too!

Free verse?
None worse … Sorry!

 

 

Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet.

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8 Responses

  1. James Sale

    Very good Joe – made me smile several times! I see you are NY based (unless you are ‘retired from NY’ too, meaning you are somewhere else!) – but if so, I hope you’ll be coming along to Bryant Park on the morning of the 17th June to perform a poem or two and to meet me and others from SCP?

    Reply
  2. Peter Hartley

    A very amusing little trio of epigrams, if I may call them that; and brevity being the soul of wit how could the last one fail to sparkle with only twelve words?

    Reply
    • Peter Hartley

      And remembering the Baconian Controversy:

      Francis Bacon
      Was sometimes taken
      For William Shakespeare,
      How queer.

      Reply
  4. David Paul Behrens

    Hi Joe – Here are some verses from two separate poems I wrote long ago:

    Shakespeare, he was very wise.
    He had a way with a play.
    When it came to writing words
    He knew just what to say.

    Shakespeare said the world’s a stage
    And we are all just players.
    Some of us don’t like the wage,
    And so are just spectators.

    Reply
    • James A. Tweedie

      As The Bard once put it, “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” I must say I am enjoying the good birthday celebration humor regardless of which variety of foolishness it represents. Thanks all, for the smile.

      Reply

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