Yard Sale of Thoughts

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Rememberances

Katie Frances Hartless
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Hamlet, Folger Library Edition
New York: Washington Square Press, 1992

Ophelia left

everything in her flowers;

they gave nothing back.

Daisy petals lied;

withered when her father died.

Pansies lacked heart’s ease.

Violets, modesty.

Rue’s reprieve; she made good end.

Pray you remember.

© khartless 2022, All Rights Reserved

Ingrid is host for dVerse’s Tuesday’s Poetics: An Homage to the Bard and even though I’m teaching class this evening I had to share some haiku about my favorite Shakespearean character Ophelia from the tragedy, Hamlet.

39 responses to “Rememberances”

  1. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    A very touching and heartfelt depiction of all these blooms’ hidden meanings. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Tom. I did try to tease out some meaning from when her final offerings.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Jeff Flesch Avatar
    Jeff Flesch

    “Violets, modesty.” What an epic line, inside a gorgeous write. Awesome, K.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Jeff. Ophelia is a character I latched onto at an early age. Read Hamlet (all parts included) to myself. I think I was about 12. Lasting impression.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jeff Flesch Avatar
        Jeff Flesch

        You’re most welcome, K. Ah, I see. Lasting impression, indeed. Those works we read early on do that, I think. Last, I mean. 😁

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Peach Berman Avatar
    Peach Berman

    Love it! That first stanza is the epitome of power in simplicity. Rock on!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Many thanks, Peach. 💜

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Brendan Avatar
    Brendan

    Marvelous compression in these pocket rocket haiku. They work as epitaphs for her drowning heart.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you for this beautiful comment and compliment. 💜

      Like

      Reply
  5. Gillena Cox Avatar
    Gillena Cox

    Nice one

    Much💛love

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Gillena. Light and love to you. 💜

      Like

      Reply
  6. calmkate Avatar
    calmkate

    very skilful composing, such a subtle reference through these flowers!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Kate. 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. calmkate Avatar
        calmkate

        my pleasure 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. poetrybydebi Avatar
    poetrybydebi

    I love your (Shakespearean) flower language poetry

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you. I always loved O.’s last scene in the play and the flowers, so symbolic.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Carol Congalton Avatar
    Carol Congalton

    Ooooo I like this! Beautifully done.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Carol. I’m sorry I missed your comment on my first time through. Hope you have a beautiful, blooming weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. a.h. starlingsson Avatar
    a.h. starlingsson

    That was really touching, but more, with such lovely use of flowers to express thoughts…so nice..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you kindly, Ain. I find sometimes it’s easier to let the flowers do the talking.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Jim W. Avatar
    Jim W.

    She should have stuck with the flowers and forgotten Hamlet….but I believe she was pregnant. There’s an alternate Hamlet that should be written from her point of view. Hamlet was a misery merchant and very privileged mass murderer…what a great literary hero

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Powerful perspectives,Jim. Hamlet was a lot like many young people I see, consumed with his problems, confused, hyper focused on the wrong things, and tragically damaged by his parents. Ophelia also matches many females thoughout history, defined by their male relations, unable to say what they mean, unable to be taken seriously, and treated as flowers, ornamental and to be displayed. 💜 thanks for this discussion. I’m really enjoying it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jim W. Avatar
        Jim W.

        She certainly deserves her own play…and not just that song 👍

        Liked by 1 person

      2. K.Hartless Avatar
        K.Hartless

        I wonder if there’s a novel written from her POV. Must be, no?

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Jim W. Avatar
        Jim W.

        I’m sure this has been looked into, but I’m too tired to check. I feel like she’s always been unjustly maligned and ignored. Maybe the “Revenge of Ophelia” would be cool….maybe it’s already happening?

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Michele Marsh Avatar
    Michele Marsh

    Hamlets a great intense play

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Indeed. I may have absorbed a bit of that intensity as a child. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Ingrid Avatar
    Ingrid

    I love how you wove all of those flower names in there: beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. paeansunplugged Avatar
      paeansunplugged

      K, this is so beautifully done! Each haiku can stand on its own but from the play’s perspective, they become incredibly symbolical. ❤️

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. K.Hartless Avatar
        K.Hartless

        Thank you so much. Yes, I think I may have “over-read” this play as a child (is that possible?) I’m so glad you layers of meaning in it. 💜

        Liked by 1 person

      2. paeansunplugged Avatar
        paeansunplugged

        No, over-reading is not possible! 😊
        You are so welcome. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

    2. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Ingrid. I do so writing about blooms this time of year. Thank you for hosting. Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate the bard.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Ingrid Avatar
        Ingrid

        Thank you K, I thought so 🌸

        Liked by 1 person

    3. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you, Ingrid. I feel like I somehow missed messages this week. It was a crazy one. My apologies. Thanks for hosting this topic.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Ingrid Avatar
        Ingrid

        My pleasure!

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    I love how you painted her… vulnerable and a sacrifice to everything else.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Thank you. Björn. I do romanticize her a little, I suppose. She has a wisdom and madness in this final scene.

      Like

      Reply
  14. Eileen Clark Avatar
    Eileen Clark

    Good day, I really enjoyed this poem and perfect image to add to it’s beauty.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. K.Hartless Avatar
      K.Hartless

      Greeting Eileen, I’m so happy you liked these haiku. Thank you this kind comment.

      Like

      Reply

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