Monday's Poetry: "All the World's a Stage"

by Pa Rock

Poetry Appreciator

I came across the following excerpt from William Shakespeare's "As You Like It" at the internet site, Writer's Almanac," a few days ago.  In it the famed playwright and poet opined on the seven stages, or ages, of man - and while he scribbled these thoughts more than five centuries ago, I felt like they still align, perhaps a bit roughly, with the life stages of modern man.  

(I find myself in well into the sixth stage, though sadly my shank has not shrunk - and I am not looking forward to the seventh, though mercifully I may not recognize it when I get there!)

Here is a look at the aging process from the quill of the Bard of Avon, as expressed in his classic play, "As You Like It."

by William Shakespeare

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His act being seven ages.  At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel,

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school.  And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow.  Then a soldier, 

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honor, sudden nd quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth.  And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part.  The six age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, 

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,

His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank;  and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound.  Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."