By Jan A humorous reflection on the front pages of The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal, inthe spirit of the Bard.
Prologue
(Enter Bard, with quill in hand, surrounded by scrolls of parchment. He peers at the headlines, shakes his head, and speaks.)
“Bewildered I stand, as these pages unfold,
Where kings plot and merchants their schemes uphold.
A tragedy anew, of ambition and despair,
Yet in jest I shall sing it, with poetic flair.”
Act I – The White House and the Gaza Question
Scene 1. A grand palace hall adorned with banners. The King – with golden locks – raises his voice.
King Trump (in grandiose tone):
“‘Tis my decree that a land far yonder,
Shall now be bound to my great honor.
Let not scholars nor allies protest,
For I alone know what is best!”
Courtiers (whispering, annoyed):
“What madness speaks he, in regal disguise?
Has he no counsel to make him wise?”
Act II – Beijing and the Tariff Tango
Scene 1. A palace in the East. Ambassadors come and go. A dragon coils through the air.
Minister Wu (State Councillor):
“Behold what unfolds beyond the sea,
Where tariffs rise and discord be.
We shall return their coin in kind,
With levies sharp, our stance aligned.”
Act III – Musk and the Wandering Agencies
Scene 1. A restless council chamber filled with parchment labeled ‘X’, ‘Tesla’, ‘Neuralink’.
Lord Musk (in a modern doublet):
“This day I move my mighty domain,
To lands afar, free of bureaucratic bane.
Let the scribes and lords but follow,
For I am the seer – and they mere hollow.”
Act IV – Europe and the Defense Dilemma
Scene 1. A stately chamber where EU leaders, like dukes and duchesses, debate.
Duchess Ursula (pensively):
“To shield the land from threats untold,
We must unlock our vaults of gold.
Yet where, pray, shall we find the coin,
To keep our fortress well enjoined?”
Act V – The World Watches
Scene 1. A grand stage: spectators from all lands read scrolls and scroll through news.
Chorus (in unison):
“Behold, ye citizens, how rulers scheme,
And weave the world into a fevered dream.
Illusion and truth dance hand in hand,
And wisdom hides in shifting sand.”
Epilogue
(Enter Bard once more, bowing slightly to the audience.)
“O noble folk, observe this age,
Where news and theatre share the stage.
‘Tis neither comedy nor tragedy true,
But both entwined in a jest anew.
With jesting mirth and wry dismay,
One lesson stands beyond the fray:
‘Beware the witches, heed your soul,
For royal decrees oft fade to coal.’