Master of the Stalking Horse

Gaston Phebus

Master of the Stalking Horse

Deer forage rapt in clover
oblivious to the nearness
of an arrowed moment…
oblivious to the nearness
of the hunter slouched behind
the cover of his stalking horse.
Stalking horses…
dupes…stooges…puppets
controlled by…
anonymous third persons
powers behind thrones
people behind proxies
eminences grise.
Imagine stalking horses
on Globe’s London stage.
Macbeth kills for his wife,
and Brutus is led by Cassius.
Puck flies at Oberon’s command,
and Roderigo follows Iago,
while Ariel stalks for Prospero,
and Shakespeare for de Vere.
 

Bonnie Marshall