Juliet's Lament

Pray tell me, William Shakespeare, wilst thou ever treat me right?
Thou bidst me die a gruesome death just past my wedding night.
It would not be so callous were I more than twelve years old;
To take my first crush seriously is folly to behold.
Dear Romeo is sweet, but simply just a teenage fling '
Hadst thou given us a week we'd prove it didn't mean a thing.
But no, thou must commit us to this dire and deathly pact:
I'd rather have seen my thirteenth year with organs still intact!
I'm bored of "tragic heroine", I'm tired of "famous lover":
Far pleasanter it would have been to outlive my nagging mother.
I've had it, Mr. Shakespeare, and I mean enough's enough:
Next time I'm up there on the stage I might just call thy bluff...
To hell with dodgy poisons, or a trust'bladed knife '
I'm going to leg it from that tomb and get myself a life!

The Optimist

Gravel crunching, breakfast munching,
Early morning vapour clings with venom to the glass.
Stomach rumbling, engine grumbling,
Neon flashing digit strips evolving far too fast.
Race the school'kids to the crossing,
Crumpled shirts and yo'yo tossing '
Business cards still need embossing '
Let me bloody past!

Fingers drumming, tension humming,
nervous brake lights blinking to anticipate the surge
Pedals twitching, left foot itching,
bullying with bumpers as two major roads converge
jostling for prime position
learner driver seeks permission
four'wheel'drive cars ooze derision
Joining in the dirge.

damp leg sticking dry lip licking indicator knucklebones and clock all ticking
jawbone clenching armpit stenching left lane right lane sinew wrenching
beatbox blaring babies staring cornered in a metal cage caught uncaring
mile on mile of bitter bile and vile reprisal one man stops ' to smile.