deepundergroundpoetry.com

Mrs Shakespeare, gripes

' Your pen has admirable addictions ' � � � � � � � � � � �
writes Will's goodwife ' for a batchelorship,� � � � � � � � � � �
you clutch tight, employment's invitation, � � � � � � � � � �
me? Mere kitchenwenched to your brats, gossiped � � � � � � � � � � �
� � � � � � � � � � � �
By fly-bitten lewdsters, my name besmirched � � � � � � � � � � �
in Shottery, birthplace of Susanna,� � � � � � � � � � �
you may mind, when we were but six month wed! � � � � � � � � � � �
I've tried honeytonguing you and pander � � � � � � � � � � �
� � � � � � � � � � � �
But, still inlawed here, cramped, far from homely. � � � � � � � � � � �
I've eyed a house in Chapel Street, Stratford � � � � � � � � � � �
with roadways to lead to Academe,� � � � � � � � � � �
the twins, 'fore their squabbling has me hell-born. � � � � � � � � � � �
� � � � � � � � � � � �
Come Will let us not be at loggerheads � � � �
But, hie ye home to test our brand new bed... � �
� � � � � � � � �
�

Written by Rew

Published 3rd Feb 2024 | Edited 25th Aug 2024

Author's Note

A-ka-dem-ee
Shottery. Hathaway's birthplace
and probably Susanna's.
Henley street Anne's in-laws place
Chapel Street, Stratford. where New Place was at.
most of these words are Shakespeare's own.
they start with pen and end with loggerhead
and include Academe. 23 here, in all.
Marriage, is said to be a word Shakespeare introduced.
I've just realized what the " Second best bed " in Shakespeare's will means. That contentious statement Academics have argued about for centuries. But, hey, I'm gonna keep it to myself...
Picture said to be Anne Hathaway from the public domain and offered here for educational purposes only.