When Shakespeare used to go to school,
He oft-times played the witty fool.
He liked to have a bit of fun
And intersperse a well-timed pun.

But when it came to academics,
To rhetoric and to polemics,
He was as serious as Plato
And twice as diligent as Cato.

One day, while engaged in his reading,
He felt his heart began a-beating,
When a delightful, bonnie lass
Was introduced into his class.

Before there passed an hour’s time
He had concocted his first rhyme
And likened the heavenly Sandy
to chocolates and to sugarcandy.

Anon he made his first advance
For to promote his first romance
And, dressed like an Italian dandy,
William approached the maiden Sandy.

" I’m but a beggar“, thus spoke he
And fell upon his bended knee,
"I can’t afford a costly date,
But I would like to be your mate.

I can’t do more than offer thee
A taste of sweet eternity“,
And he declaimed the quoted rhyme
Contending it would withstand time.

His favorite girl was quite amazed
And answered blushing: "I am dazed!
Not ever have such words been uttered,
Such utter Beauty ever muttered!“

He took her hand and kissed it slightly
(He would have liked to hold her tightly)
And said: "If you would like to a-go steady,
I have the will and I am ready.“

From then on in this Stratford school
Young Will no longer played the fool,
But tried to make a reputation
Built upon words and dedication.

So my dear reader, hold’st thou dear
The lines immortal of Shakespeare,
Recall, it all commenced with Sandy,
Who was as sweet as sugarcandy.