Avarice, The Human Greed

(Based on a small excerpt from Khalid Hosseni’s “The Kite Runner”)

I used to be a very happy man,

Leading a life, the best I can.

Blessed with a smart and beautiful wife;

What more can I ask, than a perfect life.

We didn’t have all the riches on earth,

But content that we had more than our worth.

People used to say that they envy me,

For I used to be cheerful and always in glee.

But to change, the things were bound;

And it’s then, “THE MAGIC CUP” I found.

“I am a mysterious oyster” it said,

“Will produce a pearl, if a tear is fed”.

I never knew to be sad and sorrow,

Was wondering “A tear? Where do I borrow?”

I then started looking for the gloom,

Unaware that it was to be my doom.

I looked around if someone would care, 

A few tears, if they can spare

So that the cup’s veracity I could test,

To know how I can use it Best.

All my attempts were but in vain;  

I looked around and found no pain. 

To resist; too good a temptation the cup was,

I was ready to do anything decadent to crass.

I was ready to go on a killing spree,

Did not realize that my greed had better of me.

The closest to me was my beloved wife,

And I didn’t think twice before taking her life.

Now I have the cup and all the tears,

All the sorrows and all the fears.

With the cup in a hand and seated on mount of pearls,

I weep on her dead body, which in my other arm curls.

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