O BASSANIO,
HATH YOU NOT KNOWN THE LOVE
I WEIGH FOR YOU LIKE THE MOSSES
UNDERNEATH THE PLETHORA OF MY EYES,
YOU HAVE WON THE HEART OF
THE YOUNG CONSTELLATION SCATTERED IN ALL CORNERS OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS,
SHE BE KEEN TO AN EYE AND DESIRE TO A SOUL,
YOU HAVE WON PORTIA,
THE MOST FAIREST OF ALL,
BUT THERE'S A YEARNING IN MY
EMPTINESS OF DESPAIR,
AN OFFICE OF OBSCURITY,
WHAT AM I FEELING?
SHOULD I BID THEE GOODBYE?
MY SHIPS IN SEA ARE ALL YOURS
IF ONLY YOU'LL COME BACK TO ME,
O BASSANIO,
DOTH YOU WEARILY REMEMBER,
OF THE SADNESS THAT WEARIED ME?
THE SADNESS THAT WEARIED ME
BEFORE YOU SWORE A FAIR
MAIDEN OF A LADY YOUR SECRET PILGRIMAGE?
O BASSANIO,
IF ONLY YOU KNEW OF THE GRIEVANCES
I BEAR FOR SAYING NOTHING; WHEN I AM
VERY SURE,
I SAY I'M NOT IN LOVE,
YET, MY HEART DEBATES THAT
YOU ARE NOT MY FOE,
YOU ARE A HIDDEN SECRET
IN MY POUND OF FLESH,
I HAVE SEEKED FOR YOU
IN BETWEEN OUR CALLOUSED
FINGERS,
O BASSANIO,
I DO LOVE YOU,
BUT IT IS AGAINST MINE OWN
WILL THAT I CANNOT,
YOU'LL MAKE ME WISH A SIN,
I HATH BEEN FORSWORN SINCE
MY BIRTH, I AM NOT TO SPEAK
OF SUCH WORDS,
BUT HERE I AM CONFESSING MY
UNWORTHY LOVE FOR YOU,
MY FIEND SAYS THAT I AM
THE DEVIL,
O BASSANIO,
HOW AM I TO NOT LOVE YOU,
YOU SEEK ME AT MIDNIGHT;
AN ABANDONED BARN WITH
BOARDS HANGING FROM THE CEILING,
YOU TELL ME TO HOLD YOUR HAND;
I HOLD IT, I DON'T WANT TO LET YOU GO,
YOU TELL ME YOU LOVE ME,
I HOPE FOR A CHASTE KISS ON MY
CHEEKS,
BUT YOU TURN AWAY,
WHEN I OPEN MY EYES,
YOU'RE ALREADY OUT OF THE BARN,
WHY DO YOU LEAVE ME IN
CONFUSION?
O BASSANIO,
WITH THOSE DEER EYES,
YOU LOOK AT ME WITH THOSE
EYES ACROSS THE REFINED GOLD
DINNER TABLE WHILE SEATED NEXT
TO PORTIA,
WHO DO YOU BELONG TO?
BESIDE THE LADY OF BELMONT,
OR ME?
I CHANT IN MY SLEEP EVERY NIGHT,
"DON'T LET BASSANIO BE WITH
PORTIA,"
BUT MY CHANTS ARE BUT SINFUL
WORDS, THEY'RE CHANTS OF NO USE,
WHO WOULD GRANT SUCH A WISH?
O BASSANIO,
THE NIGHT WE PEACEFULLY
SLEPT AT THE MANOR OF YOUR SUPPOSED LOVE,
I SAW YOU STAND UP IN THE BLACK
OF NIGHT,
I PRETENDED TO BE ASLEEP,
YOU LOOKED AT ME AND YOU SMILED,
YOU WENT OUT INTO THE BALCONY
AND STARED INTO THE STARS
LIKE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO ANYMORE,
I SHOULD'VE WOKEN UP AND
HUNG MY ARMS AROUND YOUR SHOULDER,
O BASSANIO,
MY LOVE IS PROFESSED,
DON'T WRITE BACK TO ME,
BURN THESE SINFUL WRITINGS AFTER
READING,
AND NEVER COME BACK TO VENICE SEEKING FOR ME IN PORTS AND STARING WITH SADNESS AT THE SHIPS,
DON'T COME FINDING ME IN MY
HOUSE,
I'M SAILING TO FRANCE.
I KNOW YOU'RE A MARRIED MAN,
BASSANIO, BUT,
IF YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER
BEFORE MIDNIGHT,
IF YOU LOVE ME THE SAME
AS I DO YOU,
THEN MEET ME AT THE VENETIAN
PORT WHERE WE FIRST MET,
HOLD MY HANDS BASSANIO,
AND WE'LL SAIL TOGETHER.
LOVE, ANTONIO.
-
[october 9, 2021]
i ship these two men honestly.
(no pun intended)
pov: i try to write in sth in shakespearean english and badly fail.
YOU ARE READING
LOVE, ANTONIO
Poetry"i doubt it's more than just platonic for you." a partial sequel to one of shakespeares' most resplendent plays.
