Shakespeare of the Dogberries
Spite’s Shakespeare almost always forced to dinge
The lower levels of society.
When Cleopatra, though, is on the fringe
Of death, she gets plain words, sobriety,
From Iras saying simply that “bright day
Is done and we are for the dark.” The weight
Of drunkenness perhaps explains away
The playwright’s scorning, nearly sneering hate
Against that lesser porter who conceives
Himself as guarding Hell while smashed.
He recognizes that his booze bereaves
His sex life, by his lumpish drinking slashed.
The fools in Much Ado loom worst of all,
Supposedly amuse, but just appal.
~ Phillip Whidden