Total Depravity

How desperately dark
shadows cast
through human hearts
whose goal and task
is parlaying who they are
into all they ask
to get.

How desperately dull
are human desires
once noble, now fallen
to the basest of mires:
self-adoration, deception,
and the ritualistic fire
of competitive conversation.

While the raging beast
of gnashing ego
scratching feet, grinding teeth,
snarling, snorting as it burrows
into souls through caging flesh
feasts on the low
of spirit.