Hamlet, Folger Library Edition
New York: Washington Square Press, 1992
Ophelia left
everything in her flowers;
they gave nothing back.
Daisy petals lied;
withered when her father died.
Pansies lacked heart’s ease.
Violets, modesty.
Rue’s reprieve; she made good end.
Pray you remember.
© khartless 2022, All Rights Reserved
Ingrid is host for dVerse’s Tuesday’s Poetics: An Homage to the Bard and even though I’m teaching class this evening I had to share some haiku about my favorite Shakespearean character Ophelia from the tragedy, Hamlet.
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
A very touching and heartfelt depiction of all these blooms’ hidden meanings. ❤
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Thank you, Tom. I did try to tease out some meaning from when her final offerings.
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“Violets, modesty.” What an epic line, inside a gorgeous write. Awesome, K.
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Thank you kindly, Jeff. Ophelia is a character I latched onto at an early age. Read Hamlet (all parts included) to myself. I think I was about 12. Lasting impression.
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You’re most welcome, K. Ah, I see. Lasting impression, indeed. Those works we read early on do that, I think. Last, I mean. 😁
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Love it! That first stanza is the epitome of power in simplicity. Rock on!
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Many thanks, Peach. 💜
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Marvelous compression in these pocket rocket haiku. They work as epitaphs for her drowning heart.
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Thank you for this beautiful comment and compliment. 💜
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Nice one
Much💛love
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Thank you, Gillena. Light and love to you. 💜
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very skilful composing, such a subtle reference through these flowers!
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Thank you, Kate. 😁
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my pleasure 🙂
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I love your (Shakespearean) flower language poetry
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Thank you. I always loved O.’s last scene in the play and the flowers, so symbolic.
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Ooooo I like this! Beautifully done.
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Thank you, Carol. I’m sorry I missed your comment on my first time through. Hope you have a beautiful, blooming weekend.
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That was really touching, but more, with such lovely use of flowers to express thoughts…so nice..
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Thank you kindly, Ain. I find sometimes it’s easier to let the flowers do the talking.
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She should have stuck with the flowers and forgotten Hamlet….but I believe she was pregnant. There’s an alternate Hamlet that should be written from her point of view. Hamlet was a misery merchant and very privileged mass murderer…what a great literary hero
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Powerful perspectives,Jim. Hamlet was a lot like many young people I see, consumed with his problems, confused, hyper focused on the wrong things, and tragically damaged by his parents. Ophelia also matches many females thoughout history, defined by their male relations, unable to say what they mean, unable to be taken seriously, and treated as flowers, ornamental and to be displayed. 💜 thanks for this discussion. I’m really enjoying it.
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She certainly deserves her own play…and not just that song 👍
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I wonder if there’s a novel written from her POV. Must be, no?
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I’m sure this has been looked into, but I’m too tired to check. I feel like she’s always been unjustly maligned and ignored. Maybe the “Revenge of Ophelia” would be cool….maybe it’s already happening?
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Hamlets a great intense play
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Indeed. I may have absorbed a bit of that intensity as a child. 😉
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I love how you wove all of those flower names in there: beautiful!
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K, this is so beautifully done! Each haiku can stand on its own but from the play’s perspective, they become incredibly symbolical. ❤️
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Thank you so much. Yes, I think I may have “over-read” this play as a child (is that possible?) I’m so glad you layers of meaning in it. 💜
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No, over-reading is not possible! 😊
You are so welcome. ❤️
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Thank you, Ingrid. I do so writing about blooms this time of year. Thank you for hosting. Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate the bard.
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Thank you K, I thought so 🌸
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Thank you, Ingrid. I feel like I somehow missed messages this week. It was a crazy one. My apologies. Thanks for hosting this topic.
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My pleasure!
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I love how you painted her… vulnerable and a sacrifice to everything else.
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Thank you. Björn. I do romanticize her a little, I suppose. She has a wisdom and madness in this final scene.
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Good day, I really enjoyed this poem and perfect image to add to it’s beauty.
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Greeting Eileen, I’m so happy you liked these haiku. Thank you this kind comment.
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