When last I wrote about you
I had something cruel to say
then dressed it up
with some additional thoughts
that cushioned the blow
softened the crash
lightened the impact.

Upon review,
I found that,
like the last two metaphors, 
the dressed-up portion of my last writing
was extraneous
and all I really wanted to say to you
was cruel.

Perhaps I should have said nothing
but I really did have something 
still to say.