Laughing Stock - poem

 

Lawrence Hall

Mhall46184@aol.com

Dispatches for the Colonial Office

LogoSophia Magazine – A Pilgrim's Journal of Life, Literature and Love

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Laughing Stock

 

 

Pray you let us not be laughing‑stocks to other men’s humors

 

The Merry Wives of Windsor, III.i.87

 

 

But why do you say “laughing stock?”

 

What, in context, is a stock?

Is it a being capable of laughter?

How does a stock laugh?

Does it chuckle or chortle or bray?

 

Or is stock a thing people laugh at?

Are the stock’s feelings hurt?

Hey, everyone, look at the stock!

Did you ever see such a sad stock?

 

Be careful:

 

Someday a stock might take your place

At the cool kids’ table

And laugh at you

For writing “laughing stock”