Sea of Troubles and other Poems, by Stuart Stromin

Poetry, chapbook, 44 pages, from Bottlecap Features.

Sea of Troubles imagines what happens to Hamlet while he is off-stage during Act 4 of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

The long, dramatic poem offers a rich, lyrical depiction of Prince Hamlet’s journey at sea, his betrayal by his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and his harrowing capture by pirates, before setting the stage for his perilous return to Denmark to confront the king.

The vivid imagery captures his sense of isolation and treachery, and the sea becomes a metaphor for his turbulent and uncharted mental state. The poem delves into Hamlet’s introspection, exploring his ruminations on mortality, loyalty and the nature of fate.

Thought-provoking and filled with excitement and intrigue, Sea of Troubles draws on the motifs and themes of the original play, while creating a stand-alone narrative offering a fresh perspective on one of literature’s most fascinating protagonists.

Stuart Stromin is an award-winning South African-American writer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. He was educated at Rhodes University, South Africa, the Alliance Francaise de Paris, and UCLA. His latest novel is Wild Cards (Close2theBone Publishing) and his recent collection of short stories is called subspace (EMP Publishing).