Catharsis

Lear storms.

The fool’s laughter

takes the wind from his sail

the moment after.

Hamlet, faltering

on a split hair,

hears the laugh

of the gravedigger.

My thoughts posture,

but a rude thought

sits in the corner

and laughs them out.

Only Othello

who threw away the pearl

has no laughing shadow

—poor lost fool.