And So It Goes... And So It Ends
The sun rises and it falls, it gives
Meaning to all around, all who define themselves
In terms of there or not there, that or not that.
I am in the sun or I am out.
Just as with the Greeks, I am us or I am other. Barbare.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow… and so it goes.

But as I make my way around the world, I find the sun
Moves with me, strange enough. And then it alights
Upon a maid so seeming-fair, one that might in truth
Embody all she seems to be
Light and “white both without and within,”
As she is and will ever be my “fair lady.”
For the first time, I am uncribbed, uncabined.

Her strands of glossy hair and alabaster cheek
Measure out to me the goodness in the world.
But then an honest, loyal man, comes in and parts
The hair to show what’s ‘neath
And all there is to be seen
Is “begrimed and black.”
My world is flipped, my eyes go blind
“Foul will seem fair, and fair will seem foul."
Is this sorcery? Vile witchcraft? Yet ‘tis the truth.
And so all that’s left to do is embrace “black vengeance."
Leave the light of day behind and
Venture where the new moon holds sway.
An abdication of love’s “crown and hearted throne,”
Where all that’s left is bitter and “tyrannous hate.”
An abyss where not even the stars dare shine,
And Satan himself would be proud to dwell.

So now this black pitch poisons white’s pure face
So what’s to do but cleanse, do what we can?
And I transform into a “thing,
Incapable of knowing anything.”
But then I see her marbled, ghostly face
And then the grieving comes, the “huge eclipse”;
True darkness sears my eyes, I’m blinded by it.
What puny stuff was there before, compared to this?
Now all I see is how Desdemon is “pale,”
Restored to “heavenly whiteness,” as I myself
Go down to hell and all its fellows.
The scales are balanced far too late
For justice to be found… and so it ends.