King Lear's fundamental flaw was never
pride. nor arrogance. nor vanity.
it was only that he was a man
who had grown old.
no one needed him.
not his wives, who were dead. nor
his daughters, who were married or
about to marry. not even his country,
whose reins he was entrusting to
younger men.
King Lear had become superfluous.
a man who was no longer
a man.
until that final moment, when
he was granted one last chance
to shine as a father,
as a king,
as a man.
and failed.
March 29, 2021
