The Nature of the Seven

Decided to abandon meter for an exercise in metaphor - the concept evolved as stanzas were included and I recommend you read each independent from the former.

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Ah, but wealth.

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Wealth is liquid merchandise.

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Whether it's a bank statement, a new watch or a wad to drop before the bartender's eyes - 

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Whether they react with glitter, empty surprise, bitter envy or they idolize -

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The subsequent sense of pride, needle deep esteem (or otherwise)

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Is enough to shake the resolve of those most solemn

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And cause a bouquet of bedrock ideals 

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A Richter scale compromise.

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Ah, but rage.

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Rage is an internal accolade,

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A beware what lies beneath the fissure, a warning sign of "fear ye all who enter here"

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For once burnt a skin graft will not disguise damage done beyond repair -

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A wrath so bittersweet and a respect made saline-scared,

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The sweat-sound and terror-tremor of the ill prepared

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And the twilight, tiger-padded footfalls 

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Of "end me, those that dare."

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Ah, but sex.

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Sex is the deliciousness,

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The banquet hall of sugar-sweet, crystal bowls, black berries and cream;

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It is the pulsating of striations, hips, curves and the ecstasy dream,

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The toe curling and the knot, the silk-purr without seam,

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The where one ends another begins, timelessly

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Twisting and swapping, dancing between

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The undeniable and gene deep heat.

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Ah, but appetite.

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Appetite is the contentment,

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The salt-fat aroma, the pupil dilation, the salivation and the stretching satisfaction -

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The sigh before the pillows, the feet upon the seat and the missing inhibition

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Of something to eat, to well cooked meat and gluttony seduction

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Before grease and tryptophan finds a serotonin sleep;

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It is the slow warmth of distraction

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And a glass-soft condensation.

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Ah, but jealousy.

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Jealousy is the allure of self pity,

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The boil or the brew, the simmer and bubble of an "I want but cannot possibly be you."

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It is the cauldron over a fire, a hag-stirred and steaming, eyeball stew.

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It is the slight and injury of a tack carried within the shoe -

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The self inflicted knife wound, the gut-twisting blade

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And the sudden urge of "allow me to demonstrate"

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Why I must be perceived as "better then you."

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Ah, but pride.

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Pride is a Kevlar sheet.

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It is a mountaintop-armor and a high-perch retreat, it is an egotistical lie and a harbored conceit -

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An ignorant accord between who one is, who one was and who one wants to be.

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It is a clever protection and a nickel plated blasphemy.

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It is an invisible trigger and a cool audacity.

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It is an Achilles heel, a hidden deceit

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And every enemy's skeleton key.

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Ah, but apathy.

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Apathy is a blanket.
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It is a black lung cough and a good luck trinket, it is sultry as it is gentle and delightfully malignant; 
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It hides in the sink and clings to the curtains, it watches you closely and hands you the bourbon.
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It traipses your kitchen and pulls at your ribbons, gently disrobing as it grants all your wishes;
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It dulls the alarm clock, trading seconds for minutes and locks against all unwarranted visits.  
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Its touches are silent, violet and delicate, it loves to embrace you without premonition;
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It whispers its wonders, tames volition and quietly kills you as you give it permission.
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Ah, but In the end there are Seven, 

Though I'm sure there are more,

For heaven doesn't quite seem

As it did once before -

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Every description 

And every allure,

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Every possible variety

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To devour or endure.

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Author's Note

Cliches are cliches but I had hoped to do this one well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5N52D5ytkQ

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

This one seems to be something of a modern restating of the original seven deadly sins. Each one listed here corresponds in some ways to the originals: sex with lust; appetite with gluttony; wealth with greed; apathy with sloth; jealousy with envy; rage with wrath, and good old pride with itself (I guess pride didn't want to assimilate.). Does this mean the more things change the more they stay the same? In my younger days lust always took first place, but now, in retirement, sloth is rapidly gaining. I guess, upon reflection, that pride has the purest lineage. An egotistical b*****d is an egotistical b*****d, whether then or now.

[NotUsinganymore]

Interesting and clever writing. It was amazing.

[Ookpik]

Oh, thank you very much

It's an old one, but none the less I'm happy that you've taken the time to read it, and am happier still that you've enjoyed doing so

Thanks for stopping in : )

-Ook

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you for your kindness. Please chekc my writing too.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

A cleverly composed poetic twist on the 'sins' we habour beneath our projected veneer - loved the wordplay and stanza format - all separate (as you say) - but creatively linked as one exquisite write... :-)

[Ookpik]

Hey thank you kindly phill, for both the praise and the review - I'll try and return the favor when I get a chance