Thy Foolish Heart, O Romeo

While reading Romeo and Juliet, Maximus found Romeo's endless sorrow over Rosaline's rejection rather amusing. As someone who loves volleyball, he imagined giving Romeo a piece of simple advice: stop dwelling on heartbreak, come join a game, and spend time with friends. This poem reimagines Romeo's lovesickness through a modern lens, suggesting that sports, teamwork, laughter, and movement might be a much better cure for sadness than sitting alone and brooding over lost love.

Romeo, O Romeo, think of Rosaline no more, 

Who drives thee mad with endless pain. 

Come! Leave those sorrows behind and come with me,

And trade them for the passion found in sport.  

Put down your self-loathing and sorrow;  

No maid is worthy of this endless pain.  

Come chase the volleyball, fly, fight for every serve, and cheer with us  

And let your heartbeat erase her name.  

Come join the game and leave those worries far behind, 

With every attack and defense, a new joy you'll surely find. 

Amongst your friends and teammates, laughter will fill the air, 

And soon you'll see that Rosaline is but air. 

Author's Note

Max is a ninth-grade student in Taipei who enjoys literature, volleyball, and finding practical solutions to dramatic problems. He hopes readers will engage with the ideas and humor of this poem on their own terms, without focusing too much on the person behind the words.