Monster Name Pride (A Sestina Poem)

Around all of us is that monster named Pride.   
We primp and we flaunt, giving him a home.  
Some ignore him, and others make him wanted,   
Sadly almost nobody has a shot  
Because once he’s entered in,  
They think instead of dragging them down, he’ll lift them up.

I encountered him one day as I walked home,  
It was a moment of weakness, I began to let him in.  
Shaking my head, and mumbling to myself, again he appeared, that monster named Pride.  
My soft steps became louder, my nose tilted up.   
Don’t mistake my pride for confidence, which is what I wanted.
I was positive my humble reputation was shot.  

My friends were there, and they pulled me in,   
They’d noticed how I was acting, my nose still tilted up.  
I was pulled to the living room, the biggest room at home,  
They sat me down and gave me pointed looks, pointed at that monster named Pride.  
It was as if he knew what was happening that he wouldn’t have a shot.  
I knew what they’d say, what they wanted,   

Off your high horse, they demanded, as I felt him stir, but I couldn’t give him up.   
A part of me knew that this wasn’t right, to act this way, still it only mattered what I wanted.  
Trying to avoid eye contact, I should’ve just agreed, instead of thinking I had a shot.  
I blocked them out, crossed my arms, turning my face away, and I wouldn’t give in.   
All this nonsense, because I didn’t want to give up that monster named Pride.
I felt invaded, violated, they weren’t giving up, there was none to blame, I let them into my home.

I knew how to stop him, how to go back, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.
He’d come to me, entered my mind, managed to get in,
I let him because my head hurt and my heart was tired, my soul was shot.
He’d needed a place to settle, my mind wandered, got ahead of me and made him a home.  
The sad thing was no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t ignore him, so I gave in, gave up.  
I had always looked down on those who accepted the standards of that monster named Pride.  

I sighed, tired of being controlled. I had to fix my reputation, which indeed was shot.  
It was time to remove and destroy that monster named Pride.
I stood with a smile, and started to speak; speak out and speak up.  
My friends stood still, shocked at my words, for what I was saying was what they had wanted.
At first it was hard, to humble myself, but I got him out, and finally, peace at home.
Once Pride was sent out, humility settled in.

I looked over the last few hours, and I felt embarrassed that I’d let in that monster named Pride.
I hadn’t ever thought I would be one to fall, it was definitely not what I’d wanted.
So just remember when you feel that monster, to close your heart and don’t let him in.