Ray's Shakespearean Woes

[Achebe]

Wyatt and Willy and Chaucer
were drinking champagne from a saucer
when in wandered Ray,
said "Will, it's your day"
and Thomas and Geoff said "of course, sir"

The method of his execution
's unknown, as is Ray's contribution
to sonnet decay
but this paved the way
for rampant free verse revolution