What does it mean to be a fool?
 
Is it to reel about the world
Like stars made out of icicles,
Dangerous and breakable?
 
What does it mean to be a fool?
 
Is it to make the things no one
Can recognize or put to use?
For the beautiful, for hurt joy?
 
He spins around, wanting to learn.
 
The Fool is dreaming that he lies
With truth—across a grave like glass
He lies, the shaft shoaling with leaves.
 
What can he do with schooling dark?
 
Each minnowed leaf says leave-taking.
He shakes his rattle at the dark
And fills his antic hat with leaves.


Marly Youmans is the author of fifteen books, including this year’s The Book of the Red King— a poetry collection from Phoenicia Publishing, in which “Definition of Fool” appears— and the forthcoming novel, Charis in the World of Wonders (Ignatius Press, 2019.) Visit her blog to read more about Marly’s books, collaborations with Welsh artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins, awards, and reviews of her poetry and fiction.