“Coup D’état” [#1/10 reflections on Stephen Greenblatt’s book – Tyrant – Shakespeare on Politics]
It seems old Shakespeare spoke his mind
Just like in Hamlet, where we find
A play within a play as well
Spoke truth to power, and did so well.“Displacement” shifts the message out
Of current context, though no doubt
Exists of meaning – “Hey! It’s art!”
The playwright claims once censors start.Take Richard-Two re: coup d’état
Dragged out of mothballs – ’magine that!
To flaunt for free to public eye
A former coup – producer dies.But players said, “Hey, easy cash!
So lighten up” – they did, but bashed
Producer who was messing ’round
With politics – on shaky ground.So, “Indirection”, used by Will,
Is open to an artist still;
When context is too hot to speak,
Is Indirection tool you seek?Strategic indirection, mixed
With clear Displacement, is a fix
For censors breathing down one’s neck
Who wish to criticism check.In Richard-two, a case in point,
Shakespeare made subtle scene anoint
Upcoming life with former style,
And entertained folks the while.When new regimes rise up to power,
There’s always lackeys, in the hour,
Who’ll take a hint (deniable)
And do some deed despicable.Of course, they then take fall for it –
In Richard-two that scene now fit
A current context, hence, the play
Was shown about that later day.Lord, I think back to coups I’ve seen,
And that’s just it – there’s often been
Such lackeys in the wings to gain
Quick rise to power; a royal pain.These are the yarns of one step back
From Sun Tsu’s Art of War – they lack
The actions of a war campaign;
Here coups to halls of power came.For such is life on planet earth,
To which humanity is birthed;
Lord, thanks for Kingdom-layer and life,
Which separates us from such strife.Thanks Lord for this.
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