Vice and Virtue | Teen Ink

Vice and Virtue

October 27, 2013
By BlackbeltJames GOLD, Reading, Other
BlackbeltJames GOLD, Reading, Other
14 articles 0 photos 193 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isaac Asimov - "Intelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage.”


The desirable one;
the one whose hunger for flesh grew dominant,
her ascendancy was crushing like a bolder on your chest.
With her unmistakable lust rooting her waist to yours,
and her tight chains to lock her lips to your own,
it became as pure as medusa gazing into your eyes with desire.

The indulgent one;
the one who gulped and swallowed for self-satisfaction,
excessively consuming and never sharing.
Her gluttonous need to defy charity suited her view on the 'restricted' selfless,
while her intoxicated spells of selfishness poisoning the air we breathed.

The greedy one;
the one who obsessed for pricing materials above health,
no matter whom it belonged to.
Materialisation of others souls,
labelled and tagged,
their efforts unrewarded to meet her capitalistic values.
Ruled by materialistic possessions, her life ran in circles of wealth,
unable to sway her course as she hurdled her workers bodies for coin.

The lethargic one;
the one who’s lacklustre spanned throughout.
Her apathy wasted away the gift of day;
her eyelids closed to her entire life,
for neither work nor rejoice would wake her slumber.
With a heart so still her soul yawned for more of what was no less than partial death.
She craved for sloth, her defining quality.

The livid one;
the one who spat in the face of opposition;
whether just or not,
her fuelled hatred for a quisling rampaged against all.
Her molten heart flung against man from her trebuchet arm.
A mind filled with massacre,
her wrath stormed hells river of blood.
Her victims of abuse crippled,
undeserving of such punishment.
External hatred was futile to feed her;
internal ache only nourished her hunger.
Shredded with a rusted blade her own flesh parted.

The resenting one;
the one craving another’s assets.
Skills, qualities, complexion and beauty, she wanted it all,
envious of her fellow man whether they were happy or not.
Her plotting to steal,
her campaign to rein;
her forever unsatisfied heart longed for what was not hers,
her jealousy ruled her every decision from the fowl tongue and saliva of spite.

The arrogant one;
the one who thought she was perfection itself.
Her need to boast power and stature was like a disease,
demoralising the apparent mortals beneath her.
She treated her bloodline and qualities like she was part of her own Arian race;
her supercilious attitude named the insult that was pride.

The heavenly one;
the one of virtue whose soul brightens day itself,
with her promise of love dampening the physical need;
her chastity only unbound by her hearts true desire.
Her control that softens the air with her calmness,
as she thinks, heeds and cares as she acts.
With restraint for selfish hunger guiding her every step,
she gives and shares her life,
her charity to the deserving undeniable.
Even when in doubt of the mutual charity,
her diligence is strong;
her conviction is high and her determination proven.
Despite life’s annoyance,
her tranquillity endures,
patience ruling her heart when her blood boils and thunders through her veins.
Neither spite nor jealousy consumes her,
tempting as it may be,
her kindness shines in her magnificent glow.
Even with her pure persona and angelic being,
pride does not know her,
her halo of humility shielding her from the darkness of sin;
the deadly vices that condemn,
the ones she has never known.


The author's comments:
Having an interest in various things surrounding the seven deadly sins and hell I based this poem on how they relate to people and usually in relationships. The moral is simply: that even though there are horrible people you will eventually find or have those people who rekindle your faith in humanity.

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This article has 5 comments.


on Dec. 31 2013 at 7:25 am
BlackbeltJames GOLD, Reading, Other
14 articles 0 photos 193 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isaac Asimov - "Intelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage.”

Thanks I'm glad you liked it :)

on Dec. 28 2013 at 6:20 pm
NaaThompson GOLD, Allston, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 74 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you don't like someone's story, write your own. -Chinua Achebe

  This is an awesome piece. Great detail, interesting choice of words. Nice work!!!

on Nov. 18 2013 at 10:32 am
BlackbeltJames GOLD, Reading, Other
14 articles 0 photos 193 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isaac Asimov - "Intelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage.”

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it, and although the last stanza is meant to be an ideal person with all of the virtues, we can all aspire to be like that in one way or another, after all some of those traits are better than none at all :)

on Nov. 17 2013 at 6:40 pm
Poetic_Person GOLD, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
18 articles 8 photos 40 comments
The description in your piece is so beautiful and thorough... I found myself imagining the different identities and questioning where I was and where I wanted to be. I love how the last and most charitable trait (the one I want to be) is longer than the others.It is very defining. Well done!! :) 

on Nov. 17 2013 at 8:07 am
BlackbeltJames GOLD, Reading, Other
14 articles 0 photos 193 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isaac Asimov - "Intelligence is an accident of evolution, and not necessarily an advantage.”

All feedback is helpful and much appreciated, so please take a second to comment something small and rate. Thanks :)