(For Day 8 of NaPoWriMo, the prompt was for a ghazal, typically a love poem formed by couplets ending with the same word and a self-reference at the end.)

Rich as king and rollicking, I share my heart too easily;
Men may fill the chess board, but I do so love a woman.

The loyal kind that hold the faith despite the politics and pleas,
The kind that seize the title of queen – I do so love a woman.

The flirty kind that mince around, ambition mixed with delicacy,
Wise enough to not lose one’s head – I do so love a woman.

The selfless kind that give and give, but take themselves whene’er they flee,
And haunt your thoughts they once had filled – I do so love a woman.

The clever kind, whose minds outshine their outer physiognomy,
Who play to win to men’s chagrin – I do so love a woman.

The gorgeous kind who cannot help but capture every heart they see,
But don’t go keeping secrets, no… I do so love a woman.

The pious kind who care so true and stay unto the end with thee,
No doubt they’re blessed to outlive the rest – I do so love a woman.

My senses fail with a sweet female, the face, the grace, the repartee…
Come now, Henry, how can one choose that single, perfect woman?
_______________________________

MPA rating: Passed (pretty much G)

The older a film is, the harder it can be to cling to one’s claimed status as a cinefile, but there are still worthwhile movies among the overacting and poor sound quality common to the early era. Charles Laughton’s Oscar-winning role as the title king in The Private Life of Henry VIII did much to shape the popular image of Henry as gluttonous, immature, and volatile, and, while I understand not all of it is historically accurate, he does make for a quintessential portrayal of the infamous monarch.

Leaving Catherine of Aragon as a footnote, the film starts with the execution of Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon) before cycling through the doomed Jane Seymour (Wendy Barrie), the shrewd Anne of Cleves (Elsa Lanchester), the adulterous Katherine Howard (Binnie Barnes), and finally the uptight Catherine Parr (Everley Gregg). Anne of Cleves gets the best interactions as she proves to be a match of wits with Henry in an ever more expensive card game, while Laughton’s anguished reaction to the revelation of Howard’s cheating is surprisingly poignant, making you almost forget about the real Henry’s rampant unfaithfulness. With its age very apparent, though, The Private Life of Henry VIII is more of a one-time watch than a potential favorite; I’d rather listen to the soundtrack of Six any day.

Best line: (Henry VIII) “Love is drunkenness when one is young. Love is wisdom when one is at my age.”

Rank: Honorable Mention

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