I
Chastity is a bungee chord
acting like a liberator, life saver,
a taste of free fall, an avian jaunt
before jerking you back to guilty landings
where you are held in suspension
for as long as tethered time cares
to keep a chord on your Chastity.
II
Temperance is a troll
tending to the liberation Garden
like a Gnome making his home in Excess
giggling for no reason, led by curiosity
he banks on your unattended fortress of Will
digesting offenses, defending ob-scenes
leading the way to stay and linger
III
Diligence is a termite
specializing in the boring method
no task is too large or dwelling too much
weakening the foundations one grain at a time,
until completely through, but not full, moving on
to the new, fulfilling the termites due.
IV
Kindness is a bus driver
who notices you standing there and
even though you are strange, and have only change-
kindness gives you a lift, to get you
where you supposed to be, better later than never
waiting for the line, strangely glad to see you,
and kind enough to pick you up.
V
Humility is a house
lacking mirrors and decor.
A crude shelter with a leaky roof
and boarded windows. A single story
with a welcome mat to wipe your feet
before moving out and up at home
on stilted loftiness.
VI
Charity is a waterfall
whose origin Springs naturally
flowing abundantly the farther it goes
picking up all, willing to be carried
in generous streams that drown
worries like eddies going nowhere
unlatching, succumbing to gravity in pools.
VII
Patience is not virtuous; nor even pious
loitering, lingering, lamenting in Limbo.
Only children have imaginary friends
and Time on their side.
Patience is a snowflake;
icy with oblivion, melting under fire,
dripping with Possibility.
Image By Jan Saenredam after Hendrik Goltzius c. 1615 (British Museum) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
