The Sin Tree, by Keshia L. Nowden

I was reading about the seven deadly sins the other day.
I’m not sure why.
Maybe I’ve been devouring them all my life, spitting them out like seeds,
Planting them
one
by
one.

Lust was the first seed, the easiest one to plant, in my loins and my head.
There’s a guy I’ve had my eye on for the last five years.
Man the things I’d do to him…He’d
         never
              walk
                  straight
               	      again.
But I’m not satisfied.
That’s when gluttony takes root in my belly.
He’s a good meal, I can’t get enough of him.
I’m still not satisfied.
The branches of greed start to grow.
        	              I want him all to myself.
      	 	                            I don’t want to share.
This man is in my thoughts all the time.
I’m getting sloppy with my life, I am sure of it.
                    
Now the leaves of sloth are taking its place on greed’s branches.
Envy is the sunlight that keeps the tree alive.
Who the hell do they think they are,
and why is he responding to them and not me?
Pride makes the tree stronger.
Pride goes before the fall….
I’m so much better than any of them.
They can’t hold a candle to me anyway
He knows who I am.
He’ll never forget me.
I want to be satisfied.              	            
  	                               
Wrath is the water --- I’m thirsty for him ---  
making the tree grow with each nonsensical outburst. 
I like when he talks only to me online.
I hate it when these whores come onto him.
Makes me want to murder them all in their sleep.
All
	    These
	                        thoughts
                                                        racing in my head.
                  	    	
The tree has become too much for me to handle.
I close my eyes.                    	      
I think of the women who nearly lost themselves like I almost did.
They let these thoughts take root.
They let it grow until it becomes too big to cut down.
All I did was close my eyes and cut down my tree.

Copyright © 2016 by Keshia L. Nowden

Tree  image is public domain.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

Keshia Nowden

My name is Keshia Nowden. I’ve been writing stories since I was 13, but never had anything published. 2016 has brought me a little success with my writing.

My flash fiction “The State of Being Alive” was given honorable mention in the Cracked Flash Fiction Contest, http://crackedflash.blogspot.com/2016/07/year-2-week-3-results.html.
My second flash fic entry, “Bleed,” received first place a few weeks later in the same flash fic contest: http://crackedflash.blogspot.com/2016/08/cracked-flash-year-2-week-6.html.

My poem, “Fuck-Up” was featured as one of WildSound Festival Review’s“Best New Poetry From All Over The World,” and was selected for a live poetry reading:

https://wildsoundfestivalreview.com/2016/07/23/fuck-up-poetry-keshia-l-nowden/

https://festivalforpoetry.com/2016/08/23/fuck-up-poetry-reading-by-keshia-l-nowden/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0DnO12Yp6w(actual reading of poem)

Here’s to endless excuses to produce more mind-numbingly boring pieces of work!

Follow me

Latest posts by Keshia Nowden (see all)

• The Sin Tree, by Keshia L. Nowden - September 17, 2016
• Mamihlapinatapai, a story by Keshia L. Nowden - September 17, 2016