Almanac Poetry: Jaded Shakespearian Actor
Portrait of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), attributed to John Taylor (1585–1651), oil on canvas, 1610. National Portrait Gallery, London. [Wikimedia Commons.]
Jaded Shakespearean Actor
I am bound upon a wheel of fire
blah blah blah …
Is this a dagger I see before me?
blah blah blah …
To be or not to be
blah blah blah blah blah …
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Sacredly Profane, is available HERE
Read more Almanac Poetry HERE
If you would like to receive the Almanac Music and Poetry newsletter we will add you to the list. Please email us: [email protected]
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Would obviously not get a gig at that marvellous Oz outfit Bell Shakespeare founded by John Bell in 1990. I met him once while they were doing a gig in Geelong. Lovely man.
RDL
BTW editors, where has my photo gone? First world problem admittedly.
RDL
Thanks for your response, RDL – no, the Bell Shakespeare productions, at least from what I know of them, were full of energy and engagement, unlike the actor depicted in my poem.
Mr Lowry, I Hate “first world problems” guy! May he spend eternity being lectured by Jordan Petersen, Paidric Macguiness and other such windbags on a bad day.
As for making Shakespeare hip for the kids, I would submit Mr Baz Luhrmann’s attempt at Romeo and Juliet by driving a few nails through it. Two years later came “Shakespeare in Love”, the tale of a conventional production of Romeo and Juliet which showed the best of the story, and showed the worthlessness of Mr Luhrmann’s bombastic production.
And “They” are now doing it with Jane Austin. In the latest “what were they thinking” production, “They” made Austin’s demure heroine Anne Eliot a raging alcoholic who talks to the audience…
Thanks for your comments, George – interesting and thought-provoking.