Beast

you breathe a flame without restraint
on fairest cheeks, adoring eyes

and wear a husk, all thin and cracked

aggression is your pain's disguise

you spot a rose and pick it fast

a beauty you'd consume with haste

but it will wilt amidst the heat

your hunger harms what you long to taste

"the beast is what I have to be

in order to survive", you say

but you singe yourself more than anyone

and drive such beauty far away

a wounded creature in a cage

will bite the bold, intrepid arm

don't get too close or you'll regret

that you attempted to disarm

an animal that snaps and snarls

afraid of what he wants the most

rage and lechery hardly hide

his sense of worth that's but a ghost

a love who looks will see the truth

if near enough she rashly stands

that underneath you're butter soft

and you would melt inside her hands

this weathered, hurt and lonely thing

could be as human as herself

his warm and loving heart still beats

in secret glass upon his shelf

all he wants is to be loved

and tamed by gentle, doting touch

but only he can make the change

no maiden could achieve so much

if you were tame then you'd emerge

a prince, as charming as can be

like I recall those years ago

back when you felt that you were free

dearest beast, I'm such a fool

I came too close and beguiled you

but I see truth you won't concede

if only you'd listen and self-renew

if pride and anger will recede

then accept this much is true

if you want someone who's beautiful

then first you must be lovely too