Ode to Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet were lovestruck individuals whose hostile, feuding families tried to keep the two apart. Yet, as everybody knows, their love still ultimately triumphed – although it ended badly, and it cost them both their lives.

And ever since that happened, Romeo and Juliet have been used as examples of passionate true love. They’ve become the stuff of movies; they are acted out on stage; and everyone’s familiar with their story and their names.

But here’s the thing …

This Romeo and Juliet: they’re just a fantasy. Their lives were penned by Shakespeare to entertain the crowds.

And this sweet and lovely couple: they were 13 or14. Their love was young and tender. So naïve and innocent.      

But if they had lived longer, and they’d led more normal lives, perhaps they would have argued, and have fought from time to time. They might have had some children, or have juggled two careers. Of course, they would have cell phones, and have social media.

And maybe our young hero would have viewed pornography, or visited some chatrooms, or downloaded hookup apps. He might have left his partner, or he might have had affairs. They may have separated, and have gone their different ways.

But this is all conjecture since the couple weren’t real.

But maybe it is closer to the way things are today.