Samuel and Harold discuss Ovid's dictum

S You look much the same, Harry
H You don’t look much different, Sam
S Though times change
H They don’t stay the same
S Or perhaps they seem to change
H Or seem to be different
S And we change too
H We’re not quite the same
S Though perhaps they only seem to change because we’ve changed
H Perhaps we’re different and they only seem to change
S On the other hand, perhaps times do change and we only seem to change
H Perhaps we only seem to change because times do change
S Or perhaps both change
H Perhaps neither stay the same
S That would make it difficult to tell
H It wouldn’t be easy
S Perhaps you’ve changed and I don’t notice it
H Or perhaps I’ve changed and you don’t notice it
S I feel mostly the same, though
H I don’t feel much different
S Though in some ways I feel different
H I don’t feel quite the same myself
S Life moves on
H It doesn’t stay the same
S Though I’d know you anywhere
H I can’t imagine not knowing you. Anywhere.
S Our plays change, but the dialogue…don’t you think?
H They are different, but the dialogue…as you say..
S Alive or dead… the play doesn’t change…
H Dead or alive…the play stays much the same, , ,
S Though the dialogue…
H Ah yes, the dialogue…
S Yours, for instance…
H Or indeed, yours…
S That dictum of Ovid…
H Ah yes, Ovid’s dictum...
S So true…
H Not untrue…
S Plus ca change... as they say, Harry...
H... plus ca la meme chose, as they say, Sam...

(Curtain)

For Jerry.

poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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