"At first he mirrored plays that he could see

on every London stage, where it would seem

he mimicked Marlowe’s line – then suddenly

amazed the world with his Midsummer Dream.




Then late in life, in sorrow he’d explore

man’s evil heart and in his fury rage

in violent voices never heard before –

to mount his scenes of horror on the stage.

But how from clever mimicry he’d go

to sudden glory, no one would ever know.
"