• Pyramus the handsome and Thisbe the lovely
    Grew to love one another
    They longed to marry but their family forbade
    For hate drove them against the other

    Now there was a wall separating the families
    But the two could not dislike the wall
    Rather to be grateful for allowing secrets to pass to each beloved
    Because a c***k was discovered allowing the youths to whisper all

    One day, however, enduring was impossible
    Their love was too strong, they needed to be together
    So they created a plan to slip through the night
    To meet at Ninus’s tomb, the day seemed to go on forever

    At last waiting drew to a close and the time came for the moon to rise
    Thisbe waited for her other half to arrive
    But a lioness’ appearance gave her a fright
    Her shawl slipped from her shoulder’s as she fled the mulberry tree who witnessed everything live

    Pyramus came and saw the proof of his love
    Ripped and bloodied from a beast’s jaw
    And so, in despair, he unsheathed his sword
    And plunged it into his heart like a lion’s claw

    Thisbe returned even though fear enclosed her heart because love gave her courage
    The mulberry tree’s berries were stained a bright red
    Thisbe ran to Pyramus’s side and understood
    The torn shawl, the blood dripping sword, everything filled her with dread

    She took the weapon who claimed her partner’s life;
    It was still wet from the dying person beside
    Thisbe’s heart; now stabbed by the sword
    And her lips kissed their last in farewell as her soul prepared for a ride

    The dyed, deep red berries now stand as a memory
    For the two who not even death could separate
    Love conquers even when fate is against
    And, although filled with sorrow, both gods and mortals both knew
    That Pyramus and Thisbe won and are together in the end