I knew who I was but didn't know I was cruel—
or, at least, a synonym for cruelty.
I didn't know cruel as a verb, as action.
To cruel a thing.
I only knew it as an adjective, as description.
A cruel thing.
I could recognize a cruel smile or a cruel act
or even a cruel glint in one's eye
but I didn't know one could cruel one's chance
to be considered human.