Pride

Stop making yourself smaller.

You have spent long enough bending
so others could feel tall.

Notice how quickly they call it arrogance
when you finally stop bowing.

Stand where you belong.

If they cannot bear to look up at you,
then let them look away.

Envy

Do not look away.

Look at everything they were handed,
then remember what you had to survive
just to stand beside them.

They will tell you that life is not fair
because unfairness has always favored them.

You do not want what belongs to them.

You only want what should have been yours
before the world placed it
in their hands.

Wrath

How much longer will you pretend
they do not deserve what is coming?

You gave them mercy,
and they mistook it for permission.

You gave them silence,
and they mistook it for weakness.

They will not stop because you ask.

They will stop when the pain 

finally belongs to them.

Strike once.

Make certain they remember.

Then call it justice.

Gluttony

Have one more.

You can stop after this one.

You have denied yourself enough, 

and you deserve something that makes 

the emptiness quiet.

Besides, it will return
whether you resist it or not.

You might as well feed it
before it begins hurting again.

You can be disciplined tomorrow.

Tomorrow has carried your promises before.

Lust

You do not miss them.

You miss who you became
beneath their gaze.

You felt beautiful,
chosen,
and almost loved.

That is close enough
when the lights are low.

Do not fear the emptiness
that follows.

It is only hunger returning.

Let them feed it again.

You can call it love
if the word makes staying easier.

Greed

Keep it.

You remember what it felt like
to need something
and watch no one come.

You earned everything you have,
and no one protected you
when you had nothing.

They will ask you to share
because sacrifice is always easier
when it belongs to someone else.

Do not give away what tomorrow

may force you to beg for.

You can be generous
when you finally have enough.

You are almost there.

Sloth

Why hurry?

The same sun will rise
whether you move or not.

You have exhausted yourself
for a world that never noticed
your effort.

Stay here.

Nothing can disappoint you
once you stop expecting anything.

Tomorrow can ask more of you.

Today, let the world
continue without you.

It always has.