Elsinore By Daylight (Final Draft)

for William Shakespeare

Elsinore by daylight

still seems night

exit all heroes borne from the stage

of what they are, or were

of what they seemed to be

to visionary sweethearts

and the fruitless trees in shadow;

now winter stands prolonged

the castle bare.

the players played

or those for whom we cared

in garnet executions scarred

and I will sing thee threnody

a ghost myself out in the yard

in other dawns than these

yet whispering the same

retribution for the Beautiful

slain.

mary angela douglas 1 december 2019