Song To Ophelia

Meg Hutchinson

With rosemary for rememberance

Senseless with pansies for your thoughts

With fennel for your flattery

And columbine for unchastity

And daisies and violets and rue for your repentance



Down to the river's edge she wanders

Among the gilded cobras and the willows

Meanders through tunnels of bamboo

Leaving barefoot tracks along the sand

Into reflection's pool she dips her hand



Ophelia jump not into the water

The river is deep and you'll go down

Ophelia chase not the white bird of silence

The rot is in Denmark not in your heart



Forget the cues and the adornments

Forget the princes and your wish for acceptance

Out her there are no props no stage lights

Out her Ophelia you direct your own life

Floating like a lily pad in white



She has walked onto the wrong stage

This is not her life this is his tragedy

Pull the curtains down and stumble to the exit

She deserves a lead role not just a small part

And the fool's laugh echoes through the stone yard