Vices & Virtues (From the Archives #4)

   I can be the vice to your virtue

The noose to your death.

The lure to your cravings,

I can be the pendulum above your head.

      I can be the addiction to your stress;

The crash to your wave,

The speed to your car,

I can be the cut to your shave.

     I can be the sin to your deeds,

The chant to your hymn.

The dagger to your shield,

I can be the bruise to your shin.

      I can be the lie to your conscience,

The fire to your rage.

The name of your desires,

I can be the numbers to your age.

      I can be the flaw to your judgement,

The storm to your peace.

The vengeance to your enemy,

I can be the catalyst to your leash.

      I can be the disease to your needle,

The burn to your smoke,

The depletion to your potency,

I can be the butt to your joke.

      I can be the claw to your clips,

The weight to your heft,

But if I gave you these things I never had,

Then baby,

what have I left?  

~N.V. (written on 28 May, 2012)