Poem of the Week: “Mischief at the Globe” by Gerard Fanning

In “Mischief at the Globe,” Gerard Fanning explores themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the ephemeral nature of human life through theatrical and natural imagery. The poem reflects on the vulnerability of the body—symbolized by a freckle—while simultaneously observing the flow of life outside the confines of the theatre. By weaving the world of performance with the steady movement of the Thames, Fanning creates an introspection on the transient nature of existence.

—Paulina Hernandez, WFU Press Intern

Mischief at the Globe

A freckle spread on the scapula
of Cleopatra’s lady-in-waiting

could be the ghost of Cassiopeia,
a flock of little pearls, a cuckoo spit,

or more likely, the intruder tattoo
of incipient melanoma.

And it’s settling in for the long run
as well it might, since like us all

its host appears in the programme
as one of many players.

Through open doors for
entrances, exits and returns,

for legions racing in the night,
the Thames’ traffic steals on—

barges going home to wharfs
and gardens, tugs heading down

river to safeguard their charges,
a starstruck muddy tide

sweeping the embankments,
all the night hollows

and all the weary singsong,
while here a girl in love with

mischief, seems more than willing
to vie with her mistress,

as every night she dares to sup
drains and dregs from a poison cup.

—Gerard Fanning, from Collected Poems (2024)