There once was a man named Othello,
A Moore, but heroic a fellow.
With the fair Desdamona who he married,
In Secret her heart he carried.
Iago did hate the Moore;
He gave lots, but got nothing therefor.
To be his officer he desired,
But Othello instead Cassio hired.
This blow left Iago quite cold.
Of Othello's marriage, Barbantio he told.
Unto Barbantio Othello was brought
For he wanted to know how his daughter he caught.
Barbantio asked, Is this witchcraft we speak of?
But Othello replied Why, no, it was love.
So to the isle Cyprus Othello was sent,
And with him, by request, Desdamona went.
Yet all was not well for these lovers,
For Othello was deceived by others.
Whence to Cyprus they arrived,
By Iago a plan was derived.
He told Roderigo Desdamona was cheating,
And that with Cassio her heart was beating.
Iago got Cassio drunk that night,
And Roderigo as well, so that they'd fight!
At the news, Othello had Cassio dismissed.
Iago convinced him he'll be sorely missed.
With Othello, Cassio had Desdamona plead.
This left poor Othello suspicious indeed,
For Iago had started the insinuation
That the lady had given into temptation.
He claimed that her kerchief Cassio possessed,
But Iago had it, to make Othello distressed.
Iago continued the insinuation
Which caused Othello much aggravation.
Soon the Moore was convinced of her ill.
He swiftly decided his wife he must kill.
In the night in their room
He thus brought to her doom:
With a pillow he covered her
Face and so smothered her.
Fair Emilia heard a cry of distress
And came at once to find her mistress
And witnessed her dead
In Othello's own bed.
Emilia said what she knew:
Desdamona had always been true!
Iago, to silence her, struck her a blow
And she died with her Lady, happy to go.
Poor Othello was grieved
For he had been deceived
Iago had caused him the pain,
So by Othello, Iago was slain.
And then with a knife
He took his own life.
In the end they all lay dead
On Othello's chamber bed.