Saturday, 6 February 2021 06:19 pm
The Sin Contest
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deckardcanineThe devil called together all the seven deadly sins
And said, “Let’s have a contest; I will praise whoever wins.
Now, each of you must tell me how you plan to change the minds
Of humans so they think, when they indulge in you, it’s fine.”
Old Sloth went first, if only to be done before they’d nag.
With little thought, it yawned and said, “I got this in the bag.
I’m all for doing nothing; that means doing nothing bad.
If anyone complains of me, I’ll say they should be glad.”
Then Gluttony came forward (didn’t step so much as roll)
And said, “Well, that’s a start, but I’ll do better to cajole.
By giving them a spectacle, I’ll start to be admired—
The point of competitions for a prize that they’ve desired.”
Then Greed saw opportunity and said, “What prize is that?
It won’t amount to much unless you let me up to bat.
I’ll tell them that, by accident, I do more good than harm
As other people benefit; now that should work a charm.”
Then Vanity perked up at this and left its reverie
To say, “Who needs an accident? The good is here in me.
I’ll tell the lowly humans that they’ve earned their bragging rights
And those who tell them otherwise are simply troglodytes.”
But Envy wouldn’t let this go; it couldn’t stand to lose.
It said, “Sure, that’s allowed to you, but then there are your dues.
I’ll tell the humans they’re deserving more than what they own.
With that, the others’ luxuries are harder to condone.”
Before the sins could argue, an arresting look from Lust
Commanded their attention, and it said, “Why stop at just?
I’ll make them all mistake me for a virtue, namely love,
And call for my pursuit as if ordained to from above.”
A stomp as loud as thunder drew the others’ eyes to Wrath,
Who said, “I’ll take the humans even further down that path.
They’ll do all sorts of monstrous things toward a noble aim
And see the rest as sinful when they do not feel the same.”
The devil put a hand up so the sins’ discussion stopped.
He said to Wrath, “It seems to me your method can’t be topped.
If you can pull it off, you’ll be the greatest sin of all.”
The rest set out to prove he didn’t make the proper call.
And said, “Let’s have a contest; I will praise whoever wins.
Now, each of you must tell me how you plan to change the minds
Of humans so they think, when they indulge in you, it’s fine.”
Old Sloth went first, if only to be done before they’d nag.
With little thought, it yawned and said, “I got this in the bag.
I’m all for doing nothing; that means doing nothing bad.
If anyone complains of me, I’ll say they should be glad.”
Then Gluttony came forward (didn’t step so much as roll)
And said, “Well, that’s a start, but I’ll do better to cajole.
By giving them a spectacle, I’ll start to be admired—
The point of competitions for a prize that they’ve desired.”
Then Greed saw opportunity and said, “What prize is that?
It won’t amount to much unless you let me up to bat.
I’ll tell them that, by accident, I do more good than harm
As other people benefit; now that should work a charm.”
Then Vanity perked up at this and left its reverie
To say, “Who needs an accident? The good is here in me.
I’ll tell the lowly humans that they’ve earned their bragging rights
And those who tell them otherwise are simply troglodytes.”
But Envy wouldn’t let this go; it couldn’t stand to lose.
It said, “Sure, that’s allowed to you, but then there are your dues.
I’ll tell the humans they’re deserving more than what they own.
With that, the others’ luxuries are harder to condone.”
Before the sins could argue, an arresting look from Lust
Commanded their attention, and it said, “Why stop at just?
I’ll make them all mistake me for a virtue, namely love,
And call for my pursuit as if ordained to from above.”
A stomp as loud as thunder drew the others’ eyes to Wrath,
Who said, “I’ll take the humans even further down that path.
They’ll do all sorts of monstrous things toward a noble aim
And see the rest as sinful when they do not feel the same.”
The devil put a hand up so the sins’ discussion stopped.
He said to Wrath, “It seems to me your method can’t be topped.
If you can pull it off, you’ll be the greatest sin of all.”
The rest set out to prove he didn’t make the proper call.