I taught them…each…to nose wriggle
like a rabbit…to imagine a bee sitting
at their nose tip about to sting…perhaps
unless they quickly wiggled it away…and
that there are no guarantees in real life
that they would not be hurt…I told them
I taught them…each… to close observe
the curve of listeners’ lips for secret
disbelief…disdain…the doubting shown
when lips are closed and corners flicked
down even for an instant…I told them
and then I wrote gesnorenplartz upon a screen
and told them that it meant smashed peas
and then I watched…and so did they…each other
and then they mostly knowing smiled
and then we began our reading of his tragedy…
how…what happened when…Montague and Capulet
and Friar and Nurse and Escalus of Verona lied
oh, when they lied…to their young
Bonnie Marshall
Artwork by Rodolpho Amoedo, 1887
Proem... 
Thought provoking & well done~
Deeply appreciated, Cindy. Smile…
Bonnie a very well written poem. You should be proud. Smiles…>KB
Thank you, KB, very much. It’s been brewing for a while. Smiles…
Wonderful
Your comment is meaningful, Sharon. Smiles…
You soar in this one Bonnie….It is really wonderful.
Haven’t written poetry for a while, so this one was fun. Thank you dear friend.
That is cleverly told, Bonnie, and beautifully set up and executed. I loved it. And here’s a confession: being even more naive than the two young people in your poem, I went scampering away to Google Translate! Then I came back and paid attention.
Finally, I am full of admiration for that closing stanza.
John, you are such a thoughtful reader, and poet. Hope you know how much I value you and your comments. Smiles…
Reblogged this on lampmagician.
Very sincere thanks…
I really love this poem because I can relate to so much of these memories!
That’s grand, Nancy. Makes me happy!
Bonnie, I have missed seeing new poems from you, and this one is an example why. In my first reading at the end of each stanza I told myself, “This has to be the best stanza,” and each time I was wrong. The repetition of “lied”in the last two lines was risky for a poet but works so well, stirring up the drama.
I early found Yevgeni Yevtushenko’s poetry..mainly “Babi Yar” but also “Lies” and took to heart the truth that if we lie to the young they will grow to hate us for it. His “Lies” became a touchstone for my teaching. Also, years earlier, my best teacher disciplined us with truthfulness… along with Latin…9th Grade. I wrote a poem about her “Tyrannosaurus Regina” Thank you, John, for reminding me. Smiles…
For a moment I was that young… reading wide-eyed… listening to every single word. Beautifully captivating.
I’m pleased you experienced the poem like this. Smiles. The idea is very important to me, and has been brewing for quite a while. Thank you.
I love this. Are you sure this is not about teaching? It is what seemed to be happening to me. You imbue these harsh lessons with such a playful, knowing hand. I am sure you did it well.
I’ve fond memories (mostly) of my teaching…where I did most of the learning. Thank you.
I’ve fond memories (mostly) of my teaching…where I did most of the learning. Thank you.
I hope Hillary and Donald read that one.
Smile…me, too! And, thanks for the comment.