The Beast

Inside a lair, the animal does hide
Keeping its young close by its side
Alert and concentrating
Listening for predators, waiting

The enemy creeps into the cave
Leaping to attack the young, but their mother was brave
Screeching loudly her claws tore into the intruder’s hide
The creature removed her talons, and stood back, the attacker bled out and quickly died

Now that her young were safe reality began to dawn upon her
The rage she felt was not gone, inside more violent impulses did stir
Feelings of being threatened would not go away
They consumed her being, the energy needed to be released or it would stay

Worse, it could destroy everything she held dear
She knew what she had to do to make it disappear
Digging her claws into her skin
She felt the violent reaction released from within

Shame consumed her
The urges, the actions, and the thoughts that occurred
A cloud of darkness settled over her head
Part of her began to wish she was dead

With time the wounds healed, but to her, the scars were a label
They said, “I am a monster. I am evil. Stay far away, I am unstable.”
So, she wore her remorse on her forehead always
And for the world’s protection in solitude, she stays