'A Matter of Pride' by Donal Mahoney

​A Matter of Pride


I first heard about
the Seven Deadly Sins
in grammar school
back when kids
memorized almost 
everything.

Wrath, Greed, Sloth,
Pride, Lust, Envy,
Gluttony skipped off 
my tongue in third grade 
even though I had 
little idea of what 
they meant.

As I grew older
and learned what
they involved
I came to think Pride 
wasn't as deadly 
as the others
since most Americans
inherit Pride
to some degree 
in their DNA

but then I listened to 
a political debate 
the other night
and heard someone
with terminal Pride
preach on television, 
someone who should 
have been in hospice 
rather than on stage.

As Americans we’re 
lucky terminal Pride 
is not contagious.
We know it’s an
autoimmune disease.
No cure for that.


Donal Mahoney