All In

envy trails success like a shadow
lurking in the corners of our deepest desires
fangs fixed on success’ every move 
seeing only what it admires

envy is an emerald green gem
in a sea of precious gold
masquerading as purity,
a hand that it could never hold

greed watches wealth like a hawk
an everpresent fixture
dangerously unnoticed
a voice barely above a whisper

greed never comes with a warning
no flashing lights or ringing bells
it is suddenly all-consuming
no one immune to its subtle spells

beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder
but what if that eye belongs to lust?
swimming in innocence and warmth
eyes that one should never think to trust

mirrors hold no alliance
reflecting what they know to be true 
interpretation is left to the reflection
left to you and your rose-colored hue

the ghost of who we are
haunting who we pretend to be
a shell of a human 
with a soul lost at sea