Midsummer Sonnets
with lines from Shakespeare's masterpiece
As we approach Midsummer, the Sonnet Sisters have found inspiration in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, incorporating lines of poetry from two magical characters, spoken in the final moments of the play. After each pair of lovers is united, and all is well among the mortals as well as the fairies & sprites—Titania & Puck take turns commanding the stage with melodies & monologues, restoring a sense of peace amidst all the spirited amusement displayed by the creatures of the wood.
In the following pair of sonnets, warbling treefrog takes her inspiration from Titania, the Fairy Queen—who instructs the fairies to sing their nighttime lullaby and offer a musical blessing to the newlyweds who have gone off to bed. Next, the dithyrambler borrows a line (as well as another short phrase) from Puck, who acts as narrator, bridging multiple realities: bringing the band of forest fairies into the abode of the royals and the experience of the audience into the world of the play.
The poet's eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
–Duke Theseus
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Act V, Scene 1
Both poems happen to explore overlapping themes of nature, identity, and transformation—as well as poetry itself. “Versed confession” & the intention to “carry in the sound” allow each narrator-poet to delve into worlds that exist as equal parts inspiration & creation. Here, the Sonnet Sisters observe their surroundings and journey through their memories, simultaneously recording & inventing distant but connected settings—where glistening bodies of water and majestic oaks take part in stories of metamorphosis & becoming.
To each word a warbling note
–Titania, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Lake Te Anau, New Zealand. Photo by warbling treefrog.
The lake this early shivers like a beast,
its dark coat ripples, caught in mountains’ net,
cool breath grips silent oaks, till in the east
strange spells are summoned from a starlit depth.
The sky this hour unfurls in a rush,
enlightened coils spill like ink on page,
truth tumbles ruddy-orange, till the blush
of dawn transforms the beast — so ends an age.
What versed confession lifts earth’s curse by day?
What fluid, captured spirit moves the skies?
A tree frog’s late-night singing finds a jay,
and to each word a warbling note replies.
Meant meetings between souls make pretty art,
but till then, coffee wakes this gremlin’s heart.
–warbling treefrog
Following darkness like a dream
–Puck, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
St. Andrews Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia. Photo by the dithyrambler.
Where oak once stood—two-hundred years by stream,
and I became—that is to say, I played
a fairy without wings; old idle theme
taught foolishness—and in this school I stayed
and later learned: a Dionysian dance
could shapeshift into many raucous forms
if I could coax my mind into a trance—
throw up my hands—in praise, new worlds are born.
I feel the movement breaking ancient ground.
These cracks upon the earth are shaped like fate.
From heart to feet, I carry in the sound
with steps that mark the end and not too late—
to see the moon—then me, within the beam
I fly—following darkness like a dream.
–the dithyrambler