Social Commentaries

Sonnet: The world’s a stage. The trifling entrance fee

by Hilaire Belloc 1870–1953

From Sonnets and Verse (1923)

Social Commentaries

The world’s a stage. The trifling entrance fee
Is paid (by proxy) to the registrar.
The Orchestra is very loud and free
But plays no music in particular.
They do not print a programme, that I know.
The caste is large. There isn’t any plot.
The acting of the piece is far below
The very worst of modernistic rot.

The only part about it I enjoy
Is what was called in English the Foyay.
There will I stand apart awhile and toy
With thought, and set my cigarette alight;
And then--without returning to the play--
On with my coat and out into the night.

MLA

Belloc, Hilaire. “Sonnet: The world’s a stage. The trifling entrance fee.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/128/.

Chicago

Belloc, Hilaire. “Sonnet: The world’s a stage. The trifling entrance fee.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/belloc/128/.

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