i didn't think of myself
-not in the beginning-
until he commended me -
chaste daughter, kind tempered, patient
virtues that he valued
as silky pearls, layer upon layer
-seven times seven-
shimmering under summer sky
the affirmation is I am
-an ending-
by what I have sacrificed
laboriously, under repeated threshing
-seven times seven-
my vanity, anger, greed, envy, sins
my life for his
until my caring hands wrinkled
husking the grains
and my voice became hoarse
following his
reciting the prayers
for the dying
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - 7 times 7, hosted by Amaya. We are to write about seven virtues and seven deadly sins. Please note that this poem is not about myself; just my reflections about gaining virtues.