On Cruelty
Shall I be cruel to you, dear?
Shall I be ruthless and austere?
Shall I be blatantly sincere
and tell you that I hurt what I hold dear?
Shall I be gruesomely severe?
Reduce your essence to a tear?
Shall I be everything you fear:
a nine-tailed cat with boots that trample, dear?
My thorny arms will hold you near.
Elicit screams I meet with cheer.
Can I be painfully sincere?
I hunger to be cruel to you, my dear.
Links:
[1] https://www.ablemuse.com/v8/bio/frederic-kusseler?s=6567ec3f5ef93ed0a05d5fce7b74bd33
[2] https://www.ablemuse.com/v8/bio/helen-pinkerton-trimpi?s=6567ec3f5ef93ed0a05d5fce7b74bd33