The seven deadly sins are with us daily, like dear old friends. Dante names them: Luxuria (extravagance, later lust), Gula (gluttony), Avaritia (greed), Acedia (sloth), Ira (wrath, more commonly known as anger), Invidia (envy), and Superbia (pride). In seven short lines, I've tried to be as extravagant as I could be in architecting a brief encounter with each -- albeit a bit lazily. The poem is best read aloud loudly where that is allowed.

Twice now with wits twist, I've tried

to list what's lost to lust. At last

I left off lest I lose all pride.

I eyed with envy as she fed

on a feast of beast and bread.

What gall! Give me it all! Fast!

Fast? No, I'll go slow -- I lied.

Paul Jones

who has for the past 15 years directed the Free Culture archives ibiblio.org, teaches at the School of Information and Library Science and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill. Jones is blessed to live with the lovely and talented Sally Greene, recently re-elected member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, and Tucker Jones, who among other good things is DJ of the WCOM "Shiny Happy People" show on Saturday afternoons.