February 2020

Othello

Play: Othello

Summary:

Desdemona's view on marriage to Othello

Written: 2017

Edited: February 17th

Posted: February 18th

Word Count: 291 Words

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An augurer split open

A white cock, seeking portents of this voyage.

He forsaw tempests

Within the twisting entrails.

He must have mis-read, for even I can see

That the waves are tame

And the sky quiet. Salt breeze

Flutters the kerchief pinned high on my bodice:

I can almost smell

The berries 'broidered on it

Berries bright as blood. It is my favorite gift

From my new husband.

... When young, I thought him magic,

A demon-soldier, sorcerer-shaped from

Dark bitter iron.

Whenever he sat restless

On our wooden couch I knew it was because

A warhorse's back,

Hot with musk and battle-sweat,

Responsive between his armored knees and thighs

Was what he dreamed of.

Silent, entranced, I would listen

To him speak: the sound of his voice drenched me like

Heavy Nile silt.

His eyes were wild, distantly

Soft: his laugh showed teeth that looked as though they could

Crack bone. I was caught.

My Venetian suitors had

Eyes like colored gates of glass, hoarse dry voices

That spoke butter words,

Perfumed hair, long-nailed hands

That hid their rotting teeth whenever they laughed.

And grabbed at my breasts.

They hid their sickly bodies

With padded velvets, with furs and pearls and rouge,

Then strutted like men.

My warrior wears no silk:

All that can contain his scarred black body

Is bloodstained leather ...

While I have been daydreaming

Dull thunderclouds have consumed the Cyprus sun.

A strange wind claws.

Howls like a dying lion.

Shivering, I turn. Iago stands waiting:

He helps me below.

His eyes are wondrous green, like

A merman's skin, or glittering scales from an

Egyptian serpent.