Harinder meets Shakespeare in a dream in this verse and talks about Antonios and Shylocks, exclusively for Different Truths.

In my dreams, I met the Bard of Avon
It felt as if I was in the seventh heaven
He was sitting with Shylock
And I stopped to hear the talk
He was trying to convince the mean Merchant
But Shylock was adamant
Exhibiting extreme selfishness
Shylock pressed on his demand for Antonio’s pound of flesh
I mustered the courage to ask Shakespeare
That why had he created a character so weird?
So cruel, so rude, so harsh, so mean!
So selfish a character I have never seen
The Bard spoke softly as I looked at his face
He said that in life; this is the case,
“This world is divided into Antonios and Shylocks
Some people are soft and compassionate
While others are hard rocks.”
And he urged me to identify the
“Shylocks” in the mankind
And warn the “Antonios” not to be blind
As trusting snakes is not right 
For they are born only to bite.

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Harinder Cheema

Harinder Cheema is a renowned poetess and an internationally published author. Her novel, ‘The Temple Stop’ received ‘The Best Book of the Year Award 2020’ by Aghaaz, Author in You. She is the co-author of 17 poetry anthologies. Her short stories have been published in the coffee table books. Her articles have been published in various international magazines, and she has also received many prestigious honours and awards in the field of literature.