Hamlet for Today

Like most modern day workers, Hamlet enters the break room and immediately starts to complain...

Ah, to be, anywhere else indeed, that is the question

whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer

the slings and arrows of the office and its misfortune

or by running away to a place of reverie

avoid them?  To quit; to work no more;

and by work to say we slave;

the heart-ache and a thousand bills,

the debt of life accumulates, and must be paid,

perchance to pay, aye, there's the rub

for in our solitude what income may we gather,

When we have shuffled off this workman's toil?

Must give us pause, there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long a respite.

For who would bear the whips and chains of work,

the owner's wrong, the supervisor's derision,

the pangs of bonuses lost, of pay grade frozen,

the arrogance of management and the spurns

that advancement not to unworthy gives,

When we ourselves might our fortunes make,

with hands bare? who would burdens bear,

to toil and strive under heavy load,

but the dread of something after employment,

the undiscover'd freedom from wealth springs,

sojourn not, confounding the mind,

and makes us rather bear the jobs we have,

than strike out on quests we know not of?

Thus circumstance does make cowards of us all;

and thus the common site of current workplace

is cast in hues of thoughts depressed,

and ventures of great risk and merit

with this in mind are cast aside,

and lose the force of momentum. Retreat now!

the multitude of coworkers, in their mockery

be all my folly remember'd.

Reviews

[Ravyne Hawke]

This is absolutely charming and since Hamlet is one of my favorites of Shakespeare, I was delighted to read this with a modern twist. I love the caption before the poem of Hamlet entering the breakroom to give his opinions. So well done!

[Jeremy Wyatt]

Did you write this while hidden in a wrork place corner? That is what I do...This is a lovely bit of fun, cheered me up no end x

[.]

LOL *clapping* bravo..as Shakespeare is a fav of mine..I loved this so much..fun and cleverly put together :)

[Chris Smith Welshpoetcs]

I do like this modern day twist. You reflect the troubles (especially the Public Sector cuts) and this is amazing. Shakespeare would have loved it.