Not the only
but the sweetest and most innocent
of victims caught up in our hero's mad pursuit
of justice
or was it all just to avenge
his father's death
his youthful heart
possessed by that dire ghost
no room for love
not till the deed he planned
was done
and though Ophelia knew
the language of the flowers
pansies for thoughts she said
thoughts pensive
pansies pendulous
both hanging heavy
had she considered
how the knowledge
of a father's murder
and a mother's cruel betrayal
might unhinge a son's mind
she might have waited
guessing that he loved her still
which he at last confessed to
only afterwards
learning that she had drowned herself
the saddest death
of all the many in the play
the ones that follow
offer no great surprises hardly shock
the senses as her death by drowning does
or is that only me