What Dreams May Come (Homage to Shakespeare on his birthday, April 23, 2001) And did that Muse of fiery countenance [1] Thou did'st entreat, alight on thee? And did That flame consume me in Promethean heat? Priest of humanity, [2] friend of the soul, And father to dear England's progeny Of poets, we your sons about your throne [3] Are substitutes until your kingdom come, [4] When we shall cast our crowns [5] to thee in tribute As tribune tributaries emptying Into thy main of waters, Avon of This sceptered isle, [6] this brave new world, [7] this Globe. [8] Thou lighted torch [9] illuminating all, I see thee as a chariot of fire And pray a double measure of your spirit, Knowing it is a hard, hard thing I ask. [10] Better than Orpheus, whose golden touch With lute of poets' sinews strung beguiled Leviathan, [11] thou hast redeemed me from The Underworld and to Elysium brought On winged imagination with such stuff As dreams are made on. May my little life Be rounded with your sleep. [12] April 2001 [1]      'Henry V', I.o.i [2]      '2 Henry IV', IV.ii.16-22 [3]      'Pericles', II.iii.38-46 [4]      'Merchant of Venice', V.i.102-105 [5]      Revelation 4:9-10 [6]      'Richard II', II.i.40 [7]      'The Tempest', V.i.185 [8]      Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, founded by Sam Wanamaker, opened in June 1997. [9]      'Measure For Measure', I.i.34-42 [10]     2 Kings 2:9-15 [11]     'Two Gentlemen of Verona', III.ii.78-80 [12]     'The Tempest', IV.i.171-173