What She Really Wanted Poem by Raymond Farrell

did not become apparent
until after the ring
was on her finger
and the vows were made.

Her plans unfolded gradually
first a bit of probing
requesting a pinch of skin
complete with epidermis
and the dermis
nothing too deep.

He got used to it
the pitted indentations
were tolerable
provided he wore
a long-sleeved shirt.

Next, she pleaded
to be allowed
to cut through the fascia
and remove a strip or two
short strips at first
then longer strips
of more than a foot
were unceremoniously
peeled off.

Old friends warned him
to get away from her
they could see
what he refused to see
but out of love and loyalty
he stayed put.

When the skin and fascia
were stripped away
she methodically
moved on to the muscle layer
flexors, extensors, rotators
were systematically
cut from the bone
even he began
to be suspicious
of her motives.

When all that was left
was the skeleton
he could not resist
so she proceeded
with glee
to disassemble him
bone by bone.

After she was finished
she said to him
just look at yourself
you're utterly disgusting
and not the man
I married.