Memories of The Tempest

A ship caught in a storm, confusion

on board. The spirit of Ariel

calling sailors to something more.

A dukedom usurped.

12 years ago, a ship

on the sea. Miranda

with her father.

Oh, the waves were cute then

until they couldn't get home.

***

Antonio and Alonso.

Alonso and Antonio.

Two names so similar

that they're attached

at the hip.

***

Prospero plots revenge

12 years, 12 zodiac signs

later. Mad for his ship

that got lost at sea.

He was pissed

getting shipwrecked

with his daughter.

So he cast magic

to put people

in his shoes.

***

12 years forward, not 12

year back. Magic now

to separate shipwreck survivors

into groups

to compete

like in a reality show.

(1) Ferdinand and Miranda acquiesced

to fall in love.

(2) The king's jester and the king's

drunken butler fight a monstrous

figure, the Caliban.

Together they raise a coup

to counter Prospero and his magic.

(3) Six men play games and plots

and thwarts and conspiracies.

(4) Ariel as a harpy,

splitting hairs to save

Antonio, Alonso, and Sebastian.

(5) Many others asleep

until the final act.

***

Prospero sleeps and forgets

the details of his plot.

He orders Ariel to take the wheel.

***

Goblins chasing as swamp hounds.

How do goblins chase

as swamp hounds?

***

Prospero refuses to set Ariel free.

Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian

forgiven. FORGIVEN.

Forgiven?

***

Prospero's restored

as the Duke of Milan.

***

Ariel ends the Shakespeare plays

with good weather, set free,

rainbows,

and Prospero requests the audience

to set him free.

Applause. Applause

like releasing Tinkerbell.

Applause. Applause

like it's Shakespeare's last.