Cleopatra

Mock not, full width and war, never more
never less, each woman hides their inner child
until, truth be absolute and love opens doors.
Stand witness, Cleopatra sighed near the Nile
river waiting for precious Mark Antony.
The ancient gods blessed her soulful prayer
at a price, this soulmate manifest the seed
of Egypt's fall. Roma victrix, our jailer
by Caesar spoke. Curse kingly men and love foul,
my soul abandoned, all doors now closed.
Where is Antony? This man, I scream and howl,
I made him a god, I now laugh at his ghost.
What fools these men, how sad their reach.
My Antony, I loved you best, you died weak.


--my take on a Shakespearean sonnet