Going Rogue (Poetry)

I threatened the piece with the shredder
it shrieked like a poem in pain
I told it to keep to the margin
and not be pretentious again

It slunk away torn with confusion
it whimpered just off to the side
I tried very hard to ignore it
sheer creative indifference applied

But it wriggled its worm in my conscience
was I cruel to refuse it a voice?
in all fairness I could at least listen
and believe I had any real choice

Oh! the scandalous thoughts it unburdened!
in words that I scarce knew I knew
I had not been prepared for such passion
as line after line thundered through

Then it sat there in printed abandon
exhausted by lyrical rage
and the heart of me felt how it pounded
its fist down the innocent page

I read the thing over and over
this strange mix of beauty and bile
outrageous offensive unnerving ...
so for now I’ll just put it on file