to be, or not to be,
that is the question.
what do I then be,
if you say me to be?
for I have forgotten,
what it once felt
to be that person
I knew I had to be.
yet if you did advise,
right is not to be,
can I ignore heart,
in whose old depth
I might still know,
what it once felt
to be that person
I knew I had to be?
consciously I die,
unconsciously I live;
wingless I fly,
seemingly pensive
till I find an answer,
I can’t break free
from that question,
to be, or not to be.
Shared with Imaginary Garden With Real Toads (Shakespeare Inspiration), d’Verse Poets (Open Link Night) and as participation for Blogging from A to Z Day 20 = Letter T..
(April 23rd, 2013)
Vinay Leo R.
Poetry & writing to me are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.
This is a wonderful take on that famous question!
Glad you liked it, Teresa! 🙂
I love this idea and how true…it can happen that one forgets who they are and might rely on the memory of who they once were.
This portion:
“can I ignore heart,
in whose old depth
I might still know,”
Love that!
I do remember those memories, Hannah. But its tough to remember few things for sure.
Leo, this is a marvelous take on Hamlet’s dilemma, one that is pretty common today! He would try to please if asked to be, but golly, that self is buried somewhere. I like the short beats and particularly: “consciously I die, / unconsciously I live; / wingless I fly,” Thanks for taking on the challenge.
I think I face that dilemma almost every day! 😉 To do this, or to not do it. Glad to have taken part, and thanks for stopping by, Susan!
How clever ~ wish I had the wit to do such a thing 🙂
Thanks, Polly 🙂
WHOA! Leo, you met the prompt and stomped it with this gorgeous soliloquy. We have all pondered that famous question, and you’ve examined it so well here. Also, the final stanza, wingless, I fly… gorgeous.
One thing, constructive: I think you mean “advise,” the verb, not “advice”? Only saying this in case you decide to submit it somewhere. All offered with love. Amy
Hahaha! Thanks, Amy 🙂 Glad you liked it. Yes, it should be indeed. Didn’t notice. Have changed now.
Decisions, decisions… 🙂
and a lot of decisions as well, Jinksy 😉
Wow! How well you met the challenge. We all seem to face that “to be or not to be” at different perspectives. I have decided” to be” with the hope in that being I become more than that “not to be” I have at times been.
Thanks, Susue 🙂 Glad you felt I met the challenge.
I got dizzy reading this beautifully composed poem .. Hamlet and Will would be impressed, I am.
Hehehe! 😀 I was just praying they wouldn’t be turning in their graves! 😛
There’s a depth of feeling here that Hamlet’s soliloquy provokes and the questions that inevitably follow. You’ve expressed that well in tight verses. The following lines I found particularly brilliant:
consciously I die,
unconsciously I live;
wingless I fly,
seemingly pensive
Thank you, Apryl 🙂
Leo,
Interesting take on Hamlet and that question is one that we all ask at some point in time..to be or not to be the question we can’t break free of???
It does seem repetitive, Truedessa. We break free one day, only to be trapped in it the next.
There really is a lot to contemplate in “To Be or Not To Be.” It is not simple….. I enjoyed your reflections.
Thank you, Mary. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I might still know,
what it once felt
to be that person
I knew I had to be
Ah! I think we an all relate to this the older we get. Well done!
Thanks, Margaret.
I really enjoyed the way this poem winds in and around itself. The idea that one does not live consciously but dies consciously is an intriguing line. There’s a certain raw edge to this that makes the old saying by the Bard come alive in your words.
Thank you Chaz, and glad you felt my words bring the great words of Hamlet and Shakespeare alive. I’m happy you enjoyed it.
…consciously I die,
unconsciously I live;
wingless I fly…
…wingless I fly…I like that…to be or not to be…every time I see those words they take me back to my 8th grade English class…enjoyed your wordplay.
And me to my tenth grade, Abruvanamedsly. Thanks!
Slowly spun, this difficult question. I think I’ll ask it until I’m not to be.
and I too, Yousei. Thank you.
beautifully penned and a lot to think of. 🙂
Thanks, Janhvi.