2020-12-09 4:31:48 ¶ ●

## a poem and an intro

So. I was doing The Research for the post I’ll post eventually analyzing specifically the line “Why brand they us with base?”, and the internet was like “yeah bastards were stereotyped as the villains (but more specifically, the like, plotting scheming type of villain.) in Shakespeare’s time. It was like. a thing”

Which is basically what I expected to be the case, but I just wanted to check it up to make sure. ANYWAY. Here’s a short free verse poem for Edmund, now that that’s confirmed. It’s very much cringy. I am no poet.

Why Brand They Us With Base

they say
you’re the villain
you would respond
if you knew the words
if you were any older than an infant
born to this world a few hundred seconds ago

they say
you’re the villain
you would respond
if you were anything more than a child
if you understood why they call you this
when you’ve never met them yet face their looks of disgust

they say
you’re the villain
you would respond
if you had the authority to answer
if you had the platform to defend yourself
from accusations and judgements made by strangers

they say
you’re the villain
you would respond
if you cared to
if you weren’t so used to it
as your standard introduction, a part of your being

you say
“I’m the villain
you figured me out
you saw right through me
before I could see myself.

so
since I’m the villain
beware my villainy
because I may be the villain
but you’re no hero.”