Star Cross'd: a contemporary take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

15

[Narrator:] This English beach is where we lay our scene,

summer in reach and life is but a dream.

Two houses, both alike in common crime,

laced with bad blood and history divide.

Flesh bites a bullet to the grave's bed sheets,

revenge is bitter, but the ice cream’s sweet.

[Romeo:] I can’t help but stare at her from afar,

by pistachio clouds and rum baba.

Like halo hoops she scoops the heads of cones,

she is neon sun next to monochrome.

When our shifts chime, loving eyes are mad fixed,

hearts clang at the spine, this oil water mix.

And torture with the miracle I need,

as the mirage of us strangles in weeds.

Tiny shadows dancing under the moon,

wish we could enjoy this view from a room.

[Juliet:] Bloody thing!

[Romeo:] Oh, she speaks. Say something, bright angel

[Other voice:] Oi, Romeo!

[Juliet:] Romeo, I smell him in the night air,

that gentle sting, electrifying snare.

Why use the word hate, use that word ever,

that carries such weight, like seaside weather?

They do not know of this Montague man,

they see him just as a rogue in a van,

but I see me in the veins of his eyes,

in the knots of his heart, breath synchronized.

Our families war with heritage hate.

Competitive, arguing, bargaining rates.

[Capulet flashback:] This is my spot, mate. This is my turf!

There’s only room for one van on this earth!

Your lot's tutti-frutti.

Your Oyster shell crunched it, past your season.

Screwball you and your Montague wagon!

Or I’ll beat you up to Monty Heaven!

[Juliet:] And love is far away, blood on the sand.

Capulets smash windows with baseball bats!

As frozen ice falls like heartbroken snow

Romeo, does he even want to know?

[Romeo:] Though our kind is different, we are the same,

our species Siamese, split by a name.

Drown my brave words in the cold reckless blue if you have to,

but swear to you, I’m true.

[Juliet:] Please don’t swear by the ferocious ocean,

that haunts our fatal divide like poison.

Swear it for real; seal your deal with a kiss...

[Romeo:] Forever sew the skin that joins these lips

Tomorrow, when we wake, let’s drive away.

Steer these vans to the edge of land and break.

Rings on their fingers, bloodline a fresh seam,

let love be their witness, over ice cream.