Bouquet for Ophelia – Brett Bogner

Brett Bogner

Alive:
O dearest Ophelia, how pitiful thou art,
First falling for Hamlet like a hapless pup,
For he hath betrayed you and me as a diet is betrayed by a tart,
Proving himself to be a true buttercup.
Yet thou must have followed our father’s advice
And to thine own self stayed true,
Thus displaying thy heart is not cold as ice
And making the white lily equivalent to you.
Alas, Polonius is since gone.
Those to care for are as many as the stars are few.
It reminds me of thy love, leading me to pawn
This red chrysanthemum unto you.
Thou art my sister, always there for me;
Likewise, I am always there for you.
In order to express my glee,
I add this violet to my bouquet to you.
For I am Laertes, by God!
Ophelia’s brother, Polonius’s son!
Take this yellow carnation, enwrapped in sod,
And know that Lord Hamlet must live on the run.
And thus, I present you
This flowered bouquet.
As your brother and one of thy beloved few,
I shall protect thy honor every day.