The Eighth Sin

Beware of unchecked lust. 
That carnal desire that drives countless,
To the depths of no return, 
Many throwing away their futures, 
Plotting to commit atrocities, 
Leaving their victims in misery, 
If alive at all, 
For acts done in less than an hour. 
Or ruining their lives 
Spending and focusing on 
Glimpses and seconds of mere flesh, 
All while their funds fade to nothing. 

Beware of unchecked gluttony. 
Over consuming to everyone’s detriment. 
Body wracked with fat and aching to stop, 
A feeling of self-loathing desiring to reconsider, 
But common sense is flavorless, 
And a healthy heart is a viable gamble, 
Beyond the body, 
Resources that can be spread fairly 
Isn’t even a thought in their minds, 
As they pile on more soon-to-be waste 
Already stale and already out of mind, 
The only appeal is to rats. 

Beware of unchecked greed.
Self-respect, morals, compassion, 
All mean nothing in the face of single digits. 
For those who would throw away bonds, 
Of everlasting friendship, 
A good reputation can’t pay their bills.
And souls fetch a good price. 
Be it leaving their fate to fixed crookedness, 
Or cheating others for the one percent, 
No amount can fill the spot in their soul, 
Where contentment once laid. 

Beware of unchecked sloth. 
The subtle killer. 
Healthy or unhealthy, 
Whatever potential to be had? 
Squandered since it was too far from their own home. 
Ambition or drive that could be had, 
Is smothered by feathers and Hypnos. 
“I’ll do this tomorrow…” 
Always will be uttered, 
Always will be forgotten, 
Always will be faintly recalled, 
Always will be disregarded. 

Beware of unchecked wrath. 
The unquenchable inferno that resides within, 
Reason and logic is mere kindling that allows it to roar. 
Blood and tears of a needless bout stain peace, 
From their victim, 
An acquaintance or a mere stranger, 
From reasons ranging from unreasonable irritation, 
To simple misfortune, 
A slight has been assumed or fabricated. 
If they bother to try to excuse it at all. 
Such brutality leads to both meeting pitiful ends, 
Locked away: above and under. 

Beware of unchecked envy, 
Inferiority that soils every accomplishment, 
And blames defeat on the blameless. 
A shade by mixing both cowardice and misery, 
That drives them to believe 
Sculpting pillars with air 
Will make them invincible. 
But those compare not to those that bring to ruin others, 
Not out of warped justice or a goal, 
But to salve a broken ego, 
Not knowing blood is a poor adhesive. 

Beware of unchecked pride. 
Believing you are infallible, 
That you are a deity amongst ants, 
Such thoughts have been the downfall of many. 
Thoughts of personal flaws, 
Or their actions being detrimental, 
Prove useless to this lot, 
Are deemed nonsensical. 
An optimistic bunch by far. 
Words won’t pierce their heart, 
But bullets and heights, 
Those have made some headway. 

Such blights of the soul, 
Have persisted throughout history. 
Yet, there is one, 
An eighth that bears warning. 

Beware so that it may not be unchecked. 
To live in an age, 
Where orchids of knowledge flows easily as water, 
When the truth awaits those who seek it out, 
That one does not remain in the dark. 
To willingly blind oneself from reality, 

And stumble about with proud smiles, 
Makes one lower than even an ass. 
Destroying any attempts of understanding, 
Refusal of the light that welcomes all, 
Such is the case of the infected, 
Of the disease - the sin - known as ignorance.