The Final Words of Puck – A Shakespearean Farewell
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Act 5, scene 1
By William Shakespeare
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber’d here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
One of my favorite passages in all of Shakespeare comes at the very end of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, spoken by the mischievous sprite Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow. In this closing soliloquy, Puck breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly, offering a whimsical apology and a gentle reminder that all the magical chaos of the play was nothing more than a dream:
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended—
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
These lines invite the audience to consider the events of the play as a kind of dream state, a fantastical interlude where love and identity swirl in a moonlit wood, governed by fairies and folly. Puck—Shakespeare’s impish trickster—has spent the play both delighting in and accidentally disturbing the lives of mortals. Here, he offers a lighthearted reparation: if any of the night’s enchantments have unsettled the audience, they can simply imagine it all as a dream, and let go of any offense.
As a character, Puck embodies the spirit of mischief and transformation. He is Oberon’s jester and servant, the orchestrator of magical mishaps, and a symbol of the play’s themes of illusion, play, and unpredictability. Yet in this final moment, he becomes almost like a stage manager or storyteller, drawing the curtain on the night’s performance. The poem’s gentle rhymes and soft cadence give it a lullaby quality, reinforcing the idea that what we’ve witnessed was a fleeting vision.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.
With this closing couplet, Puck asks the audience for applause—literal hands—and pledges to make things right again, as if promising that art, like dreams, can enchant but also restore. As a poem, it stands beautifully on its own, a meditation on the power of storytelling to both dazzle and heal, to stir the heart and then gently release it back into the waking world.
About the Author
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and numerous poems, leaving behind a literary legacy that continues to influence storytelling, language, and performance. From comedies and tragedies to histories and romances, his work explores the full range of human experience with wit, beauty, and insight.
A Delayed Start
I still plan to post a poem today, but if I do, it’ll be later. I woke up around 3 a.m. with intense pain in my leg. After getting up to take some medication, I couldn’t fall back asleep right away. So, I made a cup of coffee and started searching for a poem to share.
Eventually, the pain meds kicked in and I managed to drift off again—but now it’s after 6 a.m., and I can barely keep my eyes open. Once I’m more awake (and a little more coherent), I’ll see about posting that poem. Stay tuned.
Back in the Game… Briefly
My back and leg seem to be getting better—but this weekend reminded me I’m not quite there yet.
On Saturday, I actually managed to run some errands. Things were going surprisingly well, and for a little while, I felt almost normal. That is, until I stepped off a sidewalk the wrong way and lost my footing. I didn’t fall, thankfully, but the sudden jolt brought the pain rushing back with a vengeance.
I had one last store to visit, and since sitting in my car usually helps, I thought I could manage. Big mistake. By the time I finished shopping, the pain was so bad I nearly threw up—and judging by the way the cashier looked at me, I must have been white as a sheet. When I got home, I only unloaded what needed refrigeration, then collapsed on the couch and took my pain meds.
The rest of Saturday and all of Sunday were spent recovering from what should have been a simple errand run.
This morning, I’m calling physical therapy as soon as their office opens. I need to get started healing the root of the problem, not just managing the pain. Until then, this week will be focused on continued recovery, gentle movement, and hopefully no more sidewalk surprises.
Fingers crossed I’ll be back to work next Monday.
Wishing everyone a good week ahead—stay safe out there, and watch your step!
A Gentle Word in a Harsh World
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
— Proverbs 15:1
In a world that too often meets difference with defensiveness and love with judgment, Proverbs 15:1 offers a quietly radical response: gentleness. The verse does not promise that gentleness will fix injustice or erase cruelty, but it reminds us that the spirit in which we respond matters—not just for those we face, but for the well-being of our own hearts.
For LGBTQ+ Christians, this verse takes on added depth. Many of us know what it feels like to be spoken to with wrath: accusations disguised as theology, rejection delivered in the name of “love,” or outright exclusion from communities that profess to follow Christ. When we are hurt or demeaned, the impulse is understandable: to defend ourselves with sharpness, or to retreat in bitterness.
But gentleness is not weakness. It is not silence in the face of injustice. Rather, it is strength under control. It is the choice to center peace in a conflict-ridden conversation. It is a way of saying, “You cannot define my worth, and I will not let your anger pull me into the same spirit.” In this way, Proverbs 15:1 becomes an act of resistance: refusing to mirror the world’s cruelty, and instead, choosing to reflect Christ’s grace.
When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate (John 18:33–38), falsely accused and misunderstood, He did not return insult for insult. His responses were thoughtful, calm, and rooted in truth. Like the wisdom in Proverbs 15:1, Jesus demonstrated that we do not have to become harsh to be heard, nor cruel to be courageous.
James offers similar guidance for believers navigating tension and conflict. In James 1:19–20, he says: “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.” This passage reminds us that our spiritual integrity is shaped not just by what we say, but by how we respond. Slowness to anger is not about complacency—it’s about choosing a response that is Spirit-led rather than ego-driven.
In today’s political climate—where cruelty is often rewarded and marginalized people, especially LGBTQ+ individuals, are targeted for political gain—these verses speak loudly. Many conservative politicians use outrage, dehumanization, and fear to rally their base. The question is not whether we should respond—but how we respond.
These scriptures do not ask us to sit back and do nothing. They call us to resist in a holy way: with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
- Be Bold, Not Belligerent.
Use your voice, but use it with dignity. When someone spreads harmful rhetoric, respond with truth and calm defiance. Gentleness doesn’t mean being a doormat—it means refusing to become what you oppose.
- Channel Anger into Action.
Righteous anger is not sinful—it’s sacred. James warns against reactive, self-centered anger, but the Bible is full of faithful people who got angry for the right reasons. Let your frustration move you to vote, protest, write, donate, organize. Let it be fuel for justice.
- Guard Your Peace.
The world wants to bait you into bitterness. Proverbs reminds us: you don’t have to play that game. Protect your peace by not giving cruelty the last word.
If you’ve been wounded by the Church or by people claiming to speak for God, know this: you are not defined by their wrath. You are held by a God whose first language is love and whose justice is always rooted in mercy.
Today, you may face questions, confrontation, or even condemnation. You may be misjudged or misunderstood. But you have a choice in your response. Let it be seasoned with gentleness—not for their sake alone, but for your own. Let it be a reflection of the Spirit within you. You don’t need to match fire with fire. A gentle word is powerful enough to turn away wrath—and holy enough to protect your peace.
Moment of Zen: Sleep
This week, I chose sleep as my Moment of Zen—mostly because it’s been so elusive lately. Ever since the worst of my back pain began, restful sleep has been nearly impossible. The pain got so bad I ended up in the ER, and while the doctors provided medication to manage both the pain and my sleep, I’ve still only had two truly restful nights in the past two weeks. I’ve managed short naps during the day, but real sleep—deep, healing, uninterrupted sleep—remains rare. We often take it for granted until it’s out of reach, and only then do we realize just how essential a good night’s sleep really is to our happiness and well-being.
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