LOVING KINDNESS

Her flesh was lyrical and sweet to flog,

For the whip blanched her blood, though every vein

Flooded with hate shot a hot flow of pain,

And her screams were muffled by a brackish fog.

He loved her, yet his passion could but fret

Unless he lashed her to an awkward rage —

But when his hand wrote terror on her page

He knew exultant joy of feigned regret.

Theirs was a bond that poured the wine of fear,

And he drained her stiffened limbs with cruel art.

He taught her that all tenderness had fled

Till she would beg the hurt to taste the tear,

And when she bent to kiss her quivering heart

It lit a Chinese candle in his head.