The One Deadly Sin.

A man passing by, stopped, gazing with sad eyes,

his pants torn and feet bare. 

The stench radiates from his body in sicking wave after wave;

His voice was haggard and hateful from years being a neglected outcast,

"You are the pride that drove me to risk it all; my wife, children, and job. Now I'm nothing and have no further to fall," 

I replied as his voice faded,

"But, I am humble."

With those words he fell once more, his body lifeless before me.

Here comes another, his suit and tie pressed stiff, bleached white

Money filling each pocket

Hair thin, small tuffts

A well fed belly, health all in check

His face is pinched in a state of constant dissapointment

He steps on the body standing with fists clenched tight as he speaks with a growl to his tone; 

"You are the greed that caused my discontentment, you made me loose it all. Taking from family, friend, and foe alike. Giving back nothing at all. I'm lonely, tired, and hated. By myself and those around. I have no home just empty rooms filled with things I want more of. I'm here to end it all."

Once again calm voice, steady hand I said to him the truth,

"But, I am content."

With that, he too fell lifeless

Two bodies on the street.

Another comes condemning me as envy, this one tall and thin

He tells how he lost each thing he had

trading till there was nothing.

My reply was simple 

"But, I love all I have."

Thus another body to the pile.

Next three had the same story 

Each identified me as well;

 as lust, gluttony, and laziness.

My reply before each fell?

The first of three I said to him "But, I am full of self-control."

Second in line I simply replied "But, I know temperance."

It seemed the last, third of the three understood when I said

"But, I have zeal."

Still he fell too.

The cap to a bottle of seven deadly sins.

I stood aprocching the thin glass that encased them,

their seperation from the world.

With that I whispered the truth they did not know,

"I am the source of each of you, from lust to greed. Each sin you labeled me. I am your human tendency, to deny, lie, and accuse."

With a smile I dropped, hitting stone with last breath as glass rained down on my lifeless shell

Sins again released to hunt, consume, and reveal. 

For I am the one deadly sin.