Letter to Shakespeare and his response
Dear Shakespeare
I send you this message, heartfelt, hoping its essence reaches where your spirit rests - in peace.
Today, you are the most distinguished writer in the literary world and your work is only legendary; recognised and admired in almost every institution worldwide - academic or not. Your stories of devotion like Romeo and Juliet, societal conditioning as in The Taming of the Shrew, vengeance in Hamlet, envy in Othello and numerous other works illustrate the passionate sentiments we as humans wrestle with.
But ah, your sonnets. I love reading them. Even after 400 years these verses flawlessly relate to me, and to millions of others - emotionally and spiritually, serving the purpose of refining our potential to its purest expression. A timeless guide for centuries gone and to come, your craft is the anchor that holds fast within it the dreams and aspirations of billions all around the globe.
Our present age has birthed many mechanical wonders that would surely stir your soul in countless ways, and without a doubt would lend you a swift hand in your day. I wonder how it was for you and people of your epoch to live, love, write or to just be. I cannot fathom the world, at the moment, without its beneficial complexity.
Nonetheless, unburdened by the persistent haste which is a part of our world; the simplicity and minimalism of your time sprung forth fountains of brilliance - the dramas, the expression, the wisdom of writing so poetically just for the love of it.
Thank you, dear Sir. I offer you my deepest gratitude and love.
With an everlasting fidelity to your craft
A true student of yours
Hamna Munir
(From the 21st Century)
Shakespeare writes back to me!
Hail, fair lady of the future.
Greetings! How now?
Last Saturday I received thy letter and found it just under the door of my residence as I was coming back from a performance at The Globe Theatre. I am deeply moved by thy words of adornment for my craft as thee laced them with such picturesque admiration for me; I confess I was bashful and chuffed. I see thy wonderment about the lifestyle of people of my age and thy wish to know more about it. Well! Dear lady of the advanced mechanical era, first let me tell thee, my craft has survived centuries because it contains a part of my heart and soul and how I wished it to transgress the stretches of time. And Lo! It did. No matter how many centuries go by, the human heart remains the same. Wouldn’t thou agree?
The people here were simple in their ways of living and loving. The marvels of machinery thy speak of wast an impossible realization for our time and I don’t regret being a part of the wonderful company I enjoyed whilst this period of my life. My theatre was a beaming hope of excitement and entertainment as everyone enjoyed it with full vigour and spirit. Here each other’s presence fuelled the fires of emotions and progressed within me the writer’s magic which I ached for.
Thy name also caught my attention dear admirer. Oh! What a unique and pretty name. I shall try to commence it in some of my works as a reminder of the love people like thee present me with. Not to bid farewell so soon but my time limits me. I have to get back to work and family.
With this, to thy I say turn thy complications into thine powers and life shall swell. The world is thy stage, draft thy own play and be the hero thee wish to be.
I thus commit thee to God’s good protection.
W. Shakespeare
Hamna Munir, participant GKSC Bootcamp
