Loveliness
by flammeusgladius
Loveliness
(for Maria Klassen)
I’m posting something lovely on request.
I’m cultivating all that’s light and fair.
You’re still not happy? Hey, I did my best!
I didn’t kill and eat and then digest
The neighbors’ dog. His flesh I chose to spare.
I’m posting something lovely on request.
I went to church. My failings I confessed.
The priest got up and sputtered: “Give me air!”
You’re still not happy? Hey, I did my best!
Where is the body buried of the pest
Who disappeared? I will not tell you where.
I’m posting something lovely on request.
I’m not maintaining honesty is best.
I’m holding back from every crime and scare.
You’re still not happy? Hey, I did my best!
In loveliness I’ve chosen to invest.
For malice I’m pretending not to care.
I’m posting something lovely on request.
You’re still not happy? Hey, I did my best!
–Tom Riley
Flammeus Gladius 
I’m not fooled. I’ve read and wept at your best. But this one makes me laugh, so there’s something. Did you really get the neighbor’s dog?
No. I DIDN’T eat the dog. But I have always wanted to eat a dog….
I thought maybe you killed him but to be virtuous you just didn’t eat him… That was my interpretation.
Maria! What do you take me for? It would be totally wasteful and downright wrong to kill the dog and not eat the flesh! I strive to eat every creature that I kill. I’ve even eaten rats, slugs, and spiders….