The Tragedy of Othello

A secret marriage in the dead of night To a beauty for whom Roderigo would fight But the gentle Desdemona to marry a moor Was a thought Barbantio would directly abhor So they slipped to the house and spoke vicious slurs For the father could not endure slander of her And that was where it all began Othello, the pawn to Iago’s plan Slowly, meticulously, Iago weaved lies Carefully severing the lovers’ close ties Iago’s plan was to break the trust Into the mind his deception was thrust “She falls for another—do you really not see How her eyes fall to Casio when she’s not with thee?” Othello’s head filled with despicable pictures Desdemona in their bed – and Casio with her For some time Othello refused to believe – For his love to betray him, he couldn’t conceive After time though, the doubt he could no longer stall Thus effectively sealing the fate for them all From Iago’s scheme, Othello was led; “Where is the handkerchief I gave thee when wed?” He commanded she present it immediately To preserve her good name and confirm loyalty Unable to deliver, he entitled her ‘whore’ Though guiltless she was; his faith was no more. She tried to convince him that her love was pure But deceitful Iago had made him unsure Ripping with jealously, seething with rage Othello decided that death he would wage. Awake in her bed with her mind in a race Unable to face her, the room he just paced A change in his course he could not conceive The pain in his heart he could not relieve Fear overwhelming, she pleaded and begged As the pillow came forward and pressed to her head The violent struggles eventually ceased He slid off the bed and sank to his knees Iago’s plan had succeeded with force “Murder! Murder!” Emilia screamed in remorse Guards stormed the room, swords raised in the air Vastly stunned by the tragedy awaiting them there Othello explained the cause for his action Iago’s betrayal then came to attention Othello, enraged, thrust a blade through the liar Though he wished it was he who was sent to hell’s fire In self-condemnation he pulled out his knife Intent on rejoining his innocent wife Struggling onto the bed to lay with his fair maiden He died slowly beside her, heart sorrowfully laden Placing far too much trust in the words of man Othello’s demise came to devious hands