In the shadows of our minds lives a beast
trapped in a cage called civilization
onyx wings that exude vicious deceit
at times, to escape uses persuasion

feathery pearly white surrounds the good
a harmless creature always pulled outside
yet who is never alone as it should
since with cruelty it has to abide

a perplexing puzzle that's hard to crack
two existing masks, one black and one white
one having that which all saints never lack
the other pledging a heart full of night

yet like this checkered beast known as mankind
no other fine paradox will you find