ACT VI

At the end of the day, we will just be back to our real selves.

Romeo's passion is my action,

Juliet deserves my just reaction.

 

Hamlet cries because his father dies;

And so do I with so vengeful eyes.

 

Othello the Moor, how he's so poor!

My skin darkened, we look same, I'm sure!

 

Out of his mind, King Lear becomes blind;

I suffer as he does -- you may find.

 

To Petruchio’s pride, I am inclined;

I tame the shrew that is so unkind.

 

When lights turn on and curtains are drawn,

I befit a person, pro or con.

 

The stage is mine when I utter lines

And act out emotions just so fine.

 

The ones I portray during the plays

Are so me or so not me, I say.

 

From one act to the next, I’m the spec.

When drapes close, I’m treated with respect.

 

When plays finely end, I bow -- I bend,

I’m an actor no more; no pretend.

 

Now I’m back to me, you clearly see.

For the sixth act, I am now ready.

Author's Note

I hope you also look into the way this piece was painstakingly written.
I tried my best not to compromise the content while being so particular with the structure, internal and external rhyme schemes, meter and rhythm.
I hope you like it.

=)

Reviews

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Sir Joe

Time to come back and see how you are doing.

And, tell you what? I'm so glad I have!

This is a diamond of a poem.

Whilst I am trying these days to vary up my reviewing style these days, this poem more than deserves a highly structured and detailed review.

So my review.

1) Structure: Eleven stanzas of rhyming couplets.

2) Rhyme: Ah now here you fascinate me!

You pull off here something quite unique and extraordinary here.

Your couplets have an external rhyme. But on top of that the first line only of each couplet has an internal rhyme. And that rule you adhere to throughout.

More, as you say and I wholeheartedly agree, you do not compromise your meaning by seeking to do that.

When I read this the first time, there was only one rhyme I felt slightly forced - in your last stanza 'see' and 'ready' It's just because 'ready' has two syllables and 'see' one, so it is a connection between rhyme and rhythm.

But then I read it aloud a few more times and it sounded OK. Excuse me whilst I have an internal debate with my self (with a smile)!

Bravo!

3) Rhythm / metre: Almost constant. Mellow on the ear. On a first read again, where I thought you dropped it a bit was in the brevity of 'I befit a person, pro or con'. But I think again on reading it aloud it sounded fine.

If I end up questioning myself on rhyme and rhythm, it only goes to show poetry is something that is not just written, it should be read aloud. When you do that you can use the inflection of voice to put the stresses on the correct syllables.

And going way back when, let's face it poetry was an oral tradition in Ancient Greek times - e.g. Homer

4) Punctuation: I like consistency. Either fully punctuate or do not do so at all. You do the former (my preferred approach) where free verse often can often expressed without any punctuation. So big tick:

5) Grammar: Word perfect.

6) Use of English: Relatively straightforward. I think it works best that way given your allusions. See 7) below.

7) Allusion: Ah now here this is what this poem is all about., You use the first 5 stanzas to describe yourself as a writer or indeed just a person with specific reference to some of Shakespeare's plays. You then drop the allusions in the last six stanzas, but still keep the imagery generically in the world of theatre. See favourite lines in 9) below for more.

8) Meaning: The writer's to own. The reader's to guess or just interpret in their own way.

You leave us a clue in your opening quote - 'At the end of the day, we are just back to our real selves' But how even to interpret even that?

I see four potential meanings in here.

a. Either you are talking about you as a writer
b. Or as a person
c. As a lover; or indeed
d. All three or anymore

Where I pitch my tent of interpretation is in d.

But there is one question remaining. 'Why Act Six in the title and the last line? The answer is pretty clear in my own interpretation. But let's see as we go.

9) Favourite lines: I want to pick up all of the Shakespearean references first and then anything else I find striking.

First Shakespearean lift:

Romeo's passion is my action,
Juliet deserves my just reaction.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy where the death of both leads to peace between two warring nations. It is a play in Five Acts. Is your Sixth Act, getting back to where Romeo and Juliet were as lovers before their deaths? Hence your opening quote?

Just stabbing in the dark!

But the lines are about returned love.

Second Shakespearean lift:

Hamlet cries because his father dies;
And so do I with so vengeful eyes.

And so to Shakespeare's Hamlet. A story of a son avenging his father's death but who dies after he has done so. Again only Five Acts. Is this the Sixth Act where everything is restored to how it should have been in the first place?

Again you mirror the two lines. The second is always a reaction to the first. A sort of equivalence.

Third Shakespearean lift:

Othello the Moor, how he's so poor!
My skin darkened, we look same, I'm sure!

Again a Five Act play where the tragedies mount and Othello in the end commits suicide.

Again there is equivalence. You identify. But the non-existence Sixth Act would have stopped that happening

Let's run the last two together - King Lear and Taming of the Shrew. Both Five Act plays on love and or tragedy

And your last six stanzas mirror the above, in my own words:

Life is a play, where when the world falls down around your ears, you start again.

When life seems over. It's just begun

The Sixth Act doesn't exist. There are only Five. In the Sixth you find the real you and not repeating the mistakes of the past.

10) Overview: A highly honed and crafted poem, where a lot of structural ingenuity is employed to get the message over.

What happens in the unwritten Sixth Act?

What will tomorrow bring?

Highly accomplished writing.

I hope this helps.

Your friend


James Hanna-Magill

[Sir Joe]

Oh my God! Sir James, what words other than "thank you" are there to help me express how thankful I am to you?

This is one of the most astonishing reviews that I've ever received in the entirety of my being a part of WC. The fact that I've received this kind of review makes me the luckiest person here on this site. =)

I'm more than happy that my pains in writing ACT VI paid off -- because of the feedback from my readers, most especially from you. Your interpretation/s even made me look through the poem again. Indeed, the poem assumes a life of its own. The meaning intended by the writer isn't always what is perceived by the readers. But it doesn't mean that the meaning imprinted in the minds of the readers are incorrect. That's the power of literature -- to elicit varied interpretations from different readers, regardless of what the author is really trying to convey.

But to answer your question, sir, about the title, there never is an ACT VI in all Shakespearean plays. All of Shakespeare's play contain only five acts.

As the writer of the poem, I really intended to convey that all of us are like actors in a play, we portray roles which sometimes are so not the real us. Sometimes, we also befit characters which are so like us. We are never flat-types. But no matter what emotion or character we project to others, at the end of the day, we all still go back to being our real selves -- the SIXTH ACT -- where there is no more pretense, no more wearing of masks, no more adjustments to the environment. The main actor in a Shakespearean play usually appears in each of the five acts, but when the play is over, he comes back to reality -- the SIXTH ACT.

My intended meaning might be different from your interpretation in some ways, but yours is never disregarded. In fact, I recognize it highly. =)

Perhaps, you've also noticed that all throughout the poem, I've used a consistent 9-syllable count per line.

The very meaning of a review that is constructive and in-depth is right before my eyes. There's no wonder why you are also on top of the List of Top Reviewers. Hats off to you, Sir James!

You've greatly inspired me to write more.

I thank you a million times. =)


- joe

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Joe, The pleasure is mine. It is always inspiring for me to find such a well written poem. As I say, the interpretation is for the writer to own and the reader to guess or instead place their own interpretation upon it, Your friend James

[Sir Joe]

I can't help but smile.
Thank you again, Sir James.

=)

[Belle]

"Talk to express, not to impress. Write to express and impress."
I had to re-quote that shout out from your profile page, well because when I first read that I found that so d*mn not agreeable, but after you posted this ACT IV, I suddenly understood what you mean. You are so da*m good! If all have the idea of what LITERATURE is, then for sure this poem will be hailed by all!

You have a masterpiece now, bro; not just a masterpiece but a LITERARY PIECE.

[Sir Joe]

Hahahaha I love it when you say "damn" hahaha You sound like a modern khaleesi (watch game of thrones) hehehe thank you so much, big sis. I take your "damns" positively. hahaha

[Belle]

Haha, d*mn and bullsh*t are not natural words from me you know that, they come out only amids extreme emotions. I told you, this poem overpowered and is still overpowering my mind, I cannot even collect my thoughts about it to put them all in words, so all i can say is, you are d*mn good. I hate that at some point! See, I cannot pen even a single poem since you shared this to me...

[Sir Joe]

hahaha stop it. I'm sure you can write again. Ill wait for your next work hehehe

[Sir Joe]

If I continue writing damn good works, then those words will just come out of your mouth naturally. hahaha

[Belle]

I can pen, for sure but probably it will take time again to get back. I've been into this before, during the session with Asset on the use of language. It did help somehow, so most probably this one form you will help me again in best way.

I will love if you will continue to share excellent poetry tough, those two words make me feel good! I am loving them actually. LOL!

[Belle]

We are talking here about expressing in the form of poetry okay, not any writes to express thoughts et al... :)

[Sir Joe]

hahaha
The pressure is on me now. If those words don't appear on your comments to my next poems, then my poems aren't good enough for you hahaha
Just express what's on your mind, then just polish it afterwards. Add more elements to make it impressive while it is, in its own, expressive.

What did I say? hahaha rumbling of words. I'm not in the right state of mind, I guess.

[Belle]

Mojoe Joe, I want you to look at this. Try to explore his page, you will find out the gentleman is consistent of what he do.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/BleedingRainbow/1073951/

[Belle]

Haha, No worry bro, though product of stream of consciousness is very difficult to follow. I understood your words still...I got what you mean, well I have your point-- poetry is interdisciplinary when it comes to content and is highly artistic in term of form so i think as an aspiring poet we do the same as what the masters do ( or at least try hard to do it that way)...

[Sir Joe]

haha
Literature has always been interdisciplinary. That's why I'm so excited to go back to school again this Saturday. =)

[Belle]

Exited?! Hm, not me. :(

[Sir Joe]

Why? What's the matter?

[Pax]

what can i say... i was blown away with all the big names... speechless perhaps... I may not know or remember all those people in the history of Shakespeare's literary pieces... i say you did a perfect job in imagery and conveying in different persona... like an actor always does... in this pic i remember what i had seen in fb... you and maam belle doing a play... that was really priceless...and good memory... because an artist never stop in one craft.... he explore his other talents...

amazing piece sire!

[Sir Joe]

Thank you, Sir Paxie!
=) I'm glad you've read and reviewed this work of mine. =)

=)

[Dhaye]

This is perfect, Sir Joe. It has this flawless prosody. I think this is your best poem I ever read. This deserves great recognition because it's so obvious this was carefully written. I love couplets, too.

The person in this poem is a very good actor for he made his best performance in each play...
- as the son of a Montague who felt in love with the daughter of his family's affirmed enemy
- as the revengeful prince
- as the poor Moorish general in the Venetian army who commits suicide before he can be arrested
- as King of England who has been through many trials which overwhelmed him and caused him into death
- as a fortune seeker who married and tamed a temperamental young woman.

But as an actor, he still have to perform another act...that one with honesty and truth...the real him.

It is true that at the end of the day, we just have to go back to our real selves. We have to be who we are.

[Sir Joe]

Thank you so much, Dhaye. You've gone beneath the surface. That just made my day, Dhaye. =)

[Dhaye]

"Gone beneath the surface"? I don't know if I would be happy with that or not. If I've gone beneath the surface now, that means I was at the lower level before. Lol. But anyway, I thank you for giving me that description now.

[Sir Joe]

That statement of mine has nothing to do with the reviews you gave me before. Don't get me wrong. hehehe I was just trying to say that not everyone would care to know who Petruchio, Othello or King Lear are. I'm glad you did. =)

[Dhaye]

Lol. I'm just joking. Actually, it's flattering. That's true. I'm on my sixth act now. Hehe

[Dhaye]

I think I have an amnesia... I can't remember that "before". Lol. Don't get me wrong , too. I am in the mood for joking.

[Sir Joe]

hehehe we're both on the sixth act hehehe

[Dhaye]

Go forward...don't look back. There's a shrew at your back, Petruchio. Lol.

[Sir Joe]

hehehehe I remembered the time when I delivered an oral report about the Taming of the Shrew. =D

[Dhaye]

I'm sure you got a flat 1 grade in that report.
Anyway, there's also a shrew at my back. I have to tame her, too. It's good I learned some ways on taming a shrew. Lol.

[Sir Joe]

I don't know what grade I got in that oral report that I delivered hahaha
Hehehe a shrew behind your back? tsk3 life always has challenges.

[Dhaye]

I learned from Sir Frank Davis that "behind my back" means "in front of my face". It's true that life always has challenges...and I'm used to it. I'm not even bothered by it. If I think of those things most of the time, perhaps I will look older (since I am already old). Hehe.

[Sir Joe]

Hehehe If you don't mind me asking, who is that person whom you consider a shrew?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Interestingly written in a progression using Shakespearian characters then moving to the actor and his thoughts. A little unbalanced in flow but nothing some small crafting would not bestow.