As the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth
moves through history
little Hamnet moves, embarrassed
she really needs to pee.
Good Queen Bess, Tudor Queen
the noblest royalty
is far from Hamnet’s thoughts
you see, she’s only three.
In a hamlet town near Canterbury
little Hamnet feels her plight
in a church beside a graveyard
she stands in purest white
In deep religious fervour
Hamnet doesn’t understand
she listens in deep wonder
and tugs her mother's hand.
“ Be still “ her mother warns her
as the clergy passes by
poor Hamnet in her misery
sadly, starts to cry.
Embarrassed by her child
her mother walks outside
and asks her youngest daughter
why on earth she cried.
In whispered words, she tells her
it’s not a question of belief
her mother hides her laughter
Hamnet smiles with great relief.
Author notes
Hamnet Hathaway, 3, very much needs to pee during a church service; rural England, 1561.
A child of 3 needing to pee is far more important than any historical event. At least to her it is 
A contest entry
- a little fun with characterisation by aeolia.
500 points, ended January 5, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
-
Hamnet is actually a boy's name (and the name of Shakespeare's only son), but oh well; it works on a girl, too. No problem. This was really cute, and I second what oldtinroof said about the title! And needing to pee is much more important than anything when it has to happen; I totally would have liked to read this when I was stuck in a 3-hour lecture earlier today after drinking two vitamin waters. Torture and poor planning, for sure. At least you had Hamnet escape, hehe.
Anyways, cute poem and good rhyme. The flow was good too, but could be facilitated with a bit more punctuation just for clarity's sake. Some of the phrases, when read aloud, rush into each other, if that makes any sense. Just a few suggestions:
little Hamnet moves, embarrassed -- a semicolon after this could work, as "she needs to pee" comes after and linking the sentences without the full pause of a fullstop would be a wise idea
In a hamlet town near Canterbury -- comma at the end
as the clergy passes by -- comma after "by"
Embarrassed by her child -- comma after "child"
it’s not a question of belief -- semicolon after "belief"
These are just suggestions, though. Thanks a lot for the entry, and I hope you had fun with this!
-malvolio -
such a serious title for a hilarious situation
you have a sense of humor
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