The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins
         1. gluttony
         2. envy
         3. sloth
         4. pride
         5. lust
         6. anger
         7. greed
         8. lists often include an additional sin "despair" or "sorrow"

Tink's Seven Deadly Sins
I. Panacea

A half gallon tub
of almond praline ice cream and a spoon
is a glutton's prize.
The creamy smooth substance
slips between the lips
with cool comfort,
vanilla silk.
An occasional almond crunch
sends a burst
of brown sugar over the tongue
to be held there
with all reverence
until it melts
from the mouth.
A bite, another,
a slow swirling lick
and the magic slides
into that empty space
that expands with ease
to accommodate
the honeyed panacea,
The void never quite filled.

II. More

Her word images paint magic
on the page, the rhythm of his words slide
over his lines and wind in and out
of the reader's heart. Another captivates
with his tales and another takes me to exotic
places in five lines.
I want to do that.

I have made my place
among these poets and more who touch me so,
but Oh!
how I wish I could be more.

III. Now Here is a No Brainer

A stack of paper
sits on my desk, menial tasks
to be sloughed off to underlings,
the stack still sits
until someone takes it away.

A cup with a couple of spoons
and a fork, two plates
and an empty milk carton fill the sink.
I should at least throw out the carton.

Oh and my bed,
I have an excuse,
I wasn't the last to rise.

Need I go on?

IV. Way Too Personal

I try to practice prayer on bended knee.
I need it and I often avoid it,
I forget to remember the Source.

I understand and honor humility,
intellectually I accept it as a necessary virtue.
all too often
I fail to exercise it.

It is just that I have accomplished so much,
looking back, I amaze myself sometimes.
I know, I know, "return to the Source".
I fail to return to the Source.

Notice all of the I's in this missive.
I prefer to ignore them.
I choose not to notice them,
but niggling in the back of my mind,
I keep waiting for the fall.

V. Inuendo

I know you are all waiting for this,
do you really think I am going to bare myself?
(No pun intended)

I am an old married woman, love my man,
but my libido is young and single,
with dreams independent,
its acting on the latter, that is sin of the flesh.
(No confession today.)

I don't like pain for me or him,
I'm not into bondage though I like control,
(No, that shouldn't surprise you.)

I have had moments I'm not proud of,
more moments I've had a lot of fun with,
I like it playful, spontaneous, and long. . .
(No pun intended.)

VI. I'm Not Mad!

It pisses me off I can't
come up with a clever idea
to write about on anger.
The problem is
I don't get that mad.

Now "mad", doesn't that mean crazy?
I suppose it is that crazy kind
that exemplifies the sin
and I am proud to say, not me.
Oops, didn't I just write
about pride?

I suppose a vendetta
is another type
to watch for,
but revenge is too much work
if you ask me.
Oops, a sloth never retaliates.

And then, envy can morph
into anger if you don't
get what you desire
but instead it pushes me
to accomplish more, not tear down.

I don't like angry sex,
no turn on for me,
make me smile, leave sadness behind,
I'm a glutton for happiness.

So I failed this subject,
now that can make me really mad.
Oh that pride thing again.

VII. I Don't Relate to Greed

My husband will tell you
my sin is
I give too much away,
at least he thinks so.

I find it easy to gather more:
more money
more debt
more family
more projects
more causes
more payroll
more charities
more friends in need.

I have been abundantly blessed,
it is easy to share a blessing.

VIII. They Shall Be Comforted

I don't get sadness as a deadly sin….
We've all experienced it,
lost loved ones, pets,
we've been disappointed,
betrayed,
sadness is a natural response.

True I can't stand a whiner,
but they're more an irritant
than threatening, no sin there.

Jesus said:
"Blessed are they who mourn
for they shall be comforted."
True, I don't feel comfortable
on either end of this blessing,
but not because I connect it with sin.
How did a blessing become a curse?
                    ---Judi Van Gorder 

Series of Eight Poems Free Verse