| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). The New Poetry: An Anthology. 1917. |
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| 178. Parasite |
| | | By Alfred Kreymborg |
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| GOOD woman: | |
| Don’t love the man. | |
| Love yourself, | |
| As you have done so exquisitely before. | |
| Like that tortoise-shell cat of yours | 5 |
| Washing away the flies; or are they fleas? | |
| You’ve hurt him again? | |
| Good! | |
| Do it often. | |
| No— | 10 |
| He’ll love you the more— | |
| Always. | |
| Remember how he forgave you the last time, | |
| And how he loved you in the forgiving. | |
| Give him an adventure in godhood | 15 |
| And the higher moralities. | |
| Hurt him again. | |
| Fine! | |
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