Shakespeare, a wonderful Bard

(Your second best bed, what was that all about?)

Not even your best bed, oh deary me, 

and the reason why I cannot see.

Was it a joke or a way to get back at your wife?

Didn't you give her enough strife.

Leaving your family for the bright lights of London, a four day ride,

deserting your former bride.

How often did you return home, once, twice or never?

Were you being artless or just clever.

Had you had enough of being a family guy. 

To the family life, you said goodbye? 

Some people say, that the science and geographical aspects of your plays,
would have meant that you would have had to study hard, was that the way? 

Did you go abroad to study, or did you enjoy married life and help your father in the business.
Was your love for your wife filled with bliss.

I want to believe that you spent those missing years with Anne and your children and was a true family man.
I can believe that if you can.

Then perhaps you went to London to earn a wage, and gain a little fame.
So that you could give some money to your family and give them a  good life, surely my theory isn't too lame?

To back it up, is the fact that you returned home for the last twenty years of your life,
to your long suffering wife.

As for the second best bed you left her in your will, I don't think we should pay much mind to that,
I think it was a ruse to perplex us, making you one cool cat.

Besides, it was the law of the land at that time, that Anne get one third of your estate and somewhere to live.
So she would have been well off, and it wouldn't matter if you did not give.

It may possible too, 
that she wanted that bed as a reminder of the love she shared with you.

But we'll never know for sure what you did during those lost years,  we just have to guess, 
but I want to imagine you loved your wife and family, and would do nothing amiss.