Marie-Rose

14

Was It Shakespeare That Said

was it Shakespeare that said
shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
how did he know, in the sixteenth century,
or seventeenth (I forget),
that one day, would walk on this earth,
a girl like a light sea breeze,
with eyes, droplets of blue,
and arms like the tanned branches of trees in their prime?

how did he know, he couldn’t of, really,
without a time machine,
or some such device,
that one day your smile would be the sun,
and my heart the earth,
warmed and delighted with innocent rays;
that your peach blossom hair would silkily sweep me,
that we would dance, our arms glistening,
waving,
beneath the warm rain?

was it Shakespeare that mentioned
star-crossed love?
how, how did he know,
it doesn’t cease to amaze me,
that summer would end,
and mom would yell to get in the car,
but you’re staying, just one of the trees,
waving leaves in goodbye,
your hands just starting to fall?