Tasmanian Devil

It’s sort of a pet
She keeps hidden
Most of the time,
But on those
Rare occasions
When she feels
Aggressively ornery,
And particularly
Self-righteous,
And wants to
Hold the world at bay,
She is tempted to
Let the critter out.
Beware! for it is
An undisciplined beast,
Indiscriminant
As to friend or foe,
An animal full of
Wrath and furry,
And crazed vindictiveness.
She may feel
Completely justified
In letting it out,
But there is always
A price to pay
For such indiscretion.
People will remember
Their encounter
With her barbarian,
And recoil in fear
Of that rouge
Showing up again
Even when she keeps it
Firmly muzzled.