ROLLING DICE

The game kept going,

Lucifer made a bid-

‘Fatigue will chain your bones forever,

If the rolling dice gives a one.’

The rolling dice rolled over and over,

Miraculously stopping at one.

Stealing my maiden chance for bid,

Creating an all new slothful me.

A sly smile dancing on Lucifer’s face;

He went on ahead to the second bid.

‘Illegitimate want will reign your mind,

If the crystal dice shows a two.’

Obliging like a cur to master,

The rolling dice ceased at two.

Wanting all that I could see,

My eyes were glistened with greed.

Excited he went on for his third bid.

‘Let’s make you envious on three.’

Merciless dice, showed the number at once,

Forcibly, throwing me into the dungeons of Jealousy.

Confident of win, he called for a four

To make me Pride’s wonder ball.

The playful dice displayed the misery four.

Proud and haughty, I acted bold.

Hungry he grew; he remembered something,

Invited Gluttony to join me for five.

The dice wriggled to showcase a five;

Gulping all the food, I sat with my insatiable desire.

Ready for surrender, I waited for his call.

“A six”, he called, to fill me with wrath.

The crystal slave rolled over to a six;

I stared with anger, he laughed like a chimp.

Bored, the sloven Devil stood, ending the game.

‘My lucky loser, I present you my departing gift,

You will be loved forever by Lust.’; He vanished.

Defeated, I sat, sloshed with the deadly sins.

-VAISAKHI MISHRA