The Sevenfold Serpent

By Srividhya Srinivasan

In shadows deep, where darkness seeps,

Seven serpents in their secrets keep,

They whisper and they beckon, sly,

Temptations that can't be denied.

Lust, the fire in passion's flame,

Desire's pull, consuming aim,

In longing's depths, where hearts do stray,

A seductive dance, leading astray.

Greed, the hunger for endless gain,

Wealth's pursuit, an endless chain,

In the quest for more, the soul does bind,

Blind to the treasures of a generous mind.

Wrath, the tempest of anger's storm,

Destruction's path, in fury's form,

In the heat of rage, reason falls,

Leaving scars and shattered walls.

Envy, the green-eyed, jealous gaze,

Coveting others' brighter days,

In comparison's trap, a bitter strife,

Forgetting the beauty in one's own life.

Sloth, the lethargy that chains the soul,

Inaction's grip, a stagnant toll,

The spirit stagnates, dreams decay,

As hours slip through idle days.

Gluttony, the excess of appetite,

Consuming more, both day and night,

In indulgence's trap, we lose control,

Feeding the void, it takes its toll.

Pride, the sin of the haughty heart,

In arrogance, we're torn apart,

Thinking ourselves above the rest,

In pride's embrace, we fail the test.

In each of us, these sins may dwell,

A constant battle, a tale to tell,

To rise above, to find the way,

Toward virtue's path, where goodness may sway.

In the mirror's enigma, shadows therein,

Yet through salvation, a fresh life shall begin.

We seek to conquer these ethereal trials, yearn,

And through these riddles, our souls, anew, discern.

By Srividhya Srinivasan