SEVEN NEW DEADLY SINS
The sins in red are the old ones; the sins in blue are the modern ones recently decided upon by the Vatican.
The old ones were quite easy; take ' Coveting my neighbour's wife';
I've never 'coveted' a single one in my long and fruitful life!
Husbands, yes, I've coveted out of the corner of my eye,
But, since they didn't covet me, temptation passed me by.
'Sloth' I've been guilty of now and again, but my sloth was not sustained;
Having an afternoon 'ziz' for sure doesn't mean that sloth's ingrained.
'Lust'? Well, tell me, without it, how do babies ever arrive?
As a temporary urge I think it's part of being alive.
'Gluttony'.....in moderation? Can there be any such thing?
I've licked my lips quite a few times....... in between dieting.
'Greed' has been something to battle, but I haven't gone overboard;
But I have got clothes in my cupboard which are merely something to hoard.
'Wrath' sounds rather dramatic for the way I lose my rag!
And 'Pride' is, I think, a virtue; lack of it is a drag.
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Yes, the Biblical Sins were quite easy; a minefield that could be traversed;
While the new list is so very different; there are new ways to be cursed!
In my case forget about Drug deals, Pedophilia, being too Wealthy;
My life-style is far removed from them and the first two are most unhealthy.
Abortion I do not find sinful; Genetic Engineering the same.
Social Injustice I'm part of though I don't accept much of the blame.
The one that hits home is Pollution for I know that I'm guilty, and yet
My personal life's not polluted; the thing that is making me fret
Is the fact that I live in a coal town, exporting black gold here and there.
I know that it's doing great damage, but, most of the time, I don't care.
*
Well, now I have made my confession; not much of a story to tell!
It's up to the people who read this to decide if I'm going to Hell!
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RACERS IN RETIREMENT.
I've never kept a greyhound;
I'm not a 'doggie' soul.
And I've never watched them racing
In their 'raison d'etre' role.
But today I read about a girl
Who raises funds to save
The gentle canine creatures
Who may find an early grave.
Oh they're cosseted and tended
Like the athletes that they are,
When they still may catch that rabbit
And may prove to be a star.
But once those days are over
And they're growing slightly slow
They're thrown out on the scrap-heap;
Not a pleasant place to go.
They're the gentlest of creatures;
You can see that in their eyes.
And if you have one as a pet
You've surely got a prize.
I've only known one greyhound;
He was elegant and tame;
His lovely legs were graceful
And Ollie was his name.
So, in memory of Ollie,
A dog I wont forget,
I pen these lines suggesting
A greyhound as a pet.
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