What fools, what fools, what fools these mortals be
what fools to mimic riches glitter fame
what fools to in those masks refinement see
what fools embraceth folly without shame
Where every likeness hath its own deceit
wherein it looketh match to opposite
pretended twin to answer in repeat
the shoe that forceth toes and heel to fit
With voices like to painted artifice
with jaws that stretcheth into polished teeth
with promises that proveth meaningless
duplicity a smile cached underneath
And will the masquerade yet come undone?
I fear the jester killeth us with fun.
The Earthweal challenge this week is titled A FEAST OF EARTH FOOLS. Brendan has asked us to “Mix your human essence with another living entity”, in the spirit of the ancient seasonal celebrations that invite reversals, chaos, and ghosts into the world in order to transform it.
I’ve often written about fools, and decided to repost some of them this week, while considering how to answer Brendan’s invitation. It’s not a bad idea this time of year to consider the folly of humankind.
This poem was written in April 2016 for Shakespeare’s birthday, and Talk Like Shakespeare Day (yes it really exists).
K. 
I love the idea of a ‘talk like Shakespeare day’ and your poem firs so well with the prompt! I used blank verse for most of mine, think I was thinking of Shakespeare as well…
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Thanks Ingrid. I was thinking this didn’t answer the prompt at all. I’m still thinking of what to write that will be appropriate…but in the meantime I have other fools to repost. It’s a great theme.
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A hard one to write. But yes, fools will always be Shakespeare, won’t they? And Shakespeare’s form will always be the sonnet.
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They will. I think this was the first sonnet I wrote. But always appropriate for Shakespeare.
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You evoked him well.
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Excellent, Kerfe. Fools and Shakespeare is perfect.
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Thanks Merril–a natural pair.
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What a brilliant job! And now I’m definitely going to start reading a present I recently bought for myself: Barry Edelstein’s *Thinking Shakespeare* which is meant to be for actors but is recommended by many writers and lovers of English. Agreed that it’s the perfect time to consider the Fool; the zero card in the deck!
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Zero will show up later this week…thanks Sun! That sounds like an interesting read.
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Not used to seeing you writing sonnets, K. Incisive and polished like stainless steel. I love your collage that’s a real beaut.
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Thanks Jade. I haven’t written too many sonnets. Always a challenge! But with Shakespeare as a subject, a logical choice.
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