“To be or not to be––that is the question,1 recited The Child as she skipped across the sea, pulling the lily pad. “To stay or not to stay,” to go or not to go,” to sing or not to sing,” to move or not to move,” to write or not to write,” to do or not to do…”
“Halt, Child, and tell me why you’re reciting those phrases in
your sing sing voice.”
“Who was Hamlet, Prophet?”
“Is that why you’re chanting infinitive phrases as you skip on the water?”
“What’s an infinitive phrase, Prophet?”
“What you were reciting.”
“Oh…Prophet?”
“Yes, Child.”
“Was Hamlet a real person?”
“His creator was.”
“And who was his creator?”
“Shakespeare.”
“You mean Shakespeare created him?”
“Yes.”
“But how?”
“By examining human character.”
“But how could he examine Hamlet when he hadn’t created him
yet, Prophet?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Cause…”
“Child, Choice is given to everyone. You choose to do or not
to do, to be or not to be, to go or not to go, to hear or not to hear. The
decision is always yours.”
“So Hamlet had a choice?”
“Of course he did. Shakespeare wouldn’t have been a great
creator if he had taken away his right to choose.”
“Oh,” she said. Frowns
appeared on her forehead, and she stepped on
her lily pad to sit and think.
“Prophet?”
“Yes, Child?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You’ve always had a choice, Child, and you always will as
long as you’re on your journey.”
“I like it, Prophet! The decision is mine,” And The Child
laughed.
Solemnly, The Prophet bowed his head seeing the trials
coming to test her conviction.
“Yes, Child, the decision will be yours.”
“Prophet?”
“Yes, Child?”
“What’s an infinitive phrase?”
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
[1] Hamlet’s Soliloquy, Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet, William Shakespeare, http://www.monologuearchive.com/s/shakespeare_001.html
Shakespeare. Thank you, Patricia.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good that the Child laughs in the face of free will, looking forward to her choices. Sometimes that's all we can do. It eases the burden.
It so happens that as I read this I am listening to Elton John and Pavarotti sing "Live Like Horses."
Thank you.
Shalom,
Samantha
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI must buy that on iTunes and listen to it. Pavarotti was a tenor with heart and I loved him. Still do. His voice is indescribable.
And I so agree with you, sometimes our laughter eases our burden.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts my dear.
Shalom,
Patricia