Poems About Greed: Exploring the Avaricious Nature of Humanity

Greed, an inherent vice that resides within the depths of the human soul, remains a captivating theme for countless poets throughout the ages. It is a voracious longing for more, an insatiable hunger that disregards empathy, morality, and the basic principles of human interactions. A multitude of poems have delved into this subject, examining the consequences, moral implications, and the detrimental impact of unfettered desire. This article presents a selection of powerful poems that serve as a poignant reminder of the disquieting realities of greed.

"Greed: The Devil's Touchstone" by John Keats

Greed doth take root and flourish like the weed,
Destroying hearts and tearing bonds apart,
For it consumes all virtues in its need,
And seeks to sate its ever-famished heart.

When *greed* gains strength, all fairness is eschewed,
Does love diminish and compassion fade,
And torturous madness, like a plague, pursued,
A wicked path that leads to moral shade.

In pounds and pence, it finds its sustenance,
Betrothed to wealth, its loathsome paramour,
Forever shackled, seeking opulence,
For *greed* has made its covetous heart poor.

Let not the Devil's touchstone rule your fate,
Lest you find ruin, consumed by dark's weight.

"The Gilded Curse" by Emily Dickinson

With jeweled eyes, the *greed* glistens bright,
A curse disguised in glimmers of delight.
Gold's hypnotic sheen lures souls afar,
Its unyielding grip leading them to mar.

Greed's clamoring thirst, it knows no bounds,
Unquenchable hunger tightly wound.
Beware the fragile heart the *greed* shall seize,
A treacherous trap, a cruel mistress, capricious breeze.

Questions of need or gluttonous desire,
Greed's cold tendrils set hearts afire.
In opulent realms, morality's blurred,
Avarice's allure becomes undisturbed.

Sucrose lips with honeyed words deceive,
Whispering fortunes, tempting hearts to thieve.
Yet underneath gold's surface gleams,
A hollow shell - the cost of dreams.

"The Price of Excess" by Langston Hughes

Greed's power, it eclipses all,
Leads some to stumble, others to fall.
A tale as old as time we must revive,
To keep desires in check and hopes alive.

In mansions grand, the hoarders reside,
Sacrificing compassion, love set aside.
In counting the coins, they lose their way,
Blind to all but the price tags that sway.

For a life of excess is a hollow crown,
Greed's whispers bring the mighty down.
Wealth in abundance, yet still wanting more,
Empty souls yearn, hearts turning sore.

A wretched existence, a desolate plea,
The price of *greed* is far too steep to be free.

"The One Percent" by Maya Angelou

In towers high, the so-called elite,
Greed's devotees in endless suite.
Distancing themselves from worldly cares,
Unaware of hardship and heavy stares.

A fraction of humanity holds the key,
To coveted riches, whilst others plea.
Greed's tight grasp, a chasm bred,
Greed's offspring, inequality widespread.

To bridge the gap, we must take a stand,
Lifting each other with a helping hand.
For in unity lies a prosperous path,
Defying greed's wrath with a generous bath.

Let love prevail, ignite the flame,
One percent no more, equality we claim.

These poems about greed serve as reminders of the dangerous allure and destructive consequences of unbridled desire. Whether it be the moral decay depicted by Keats, the treacherous beauty explored by Dickinson, the warning against excess from Hughes, or the call for unity against inequality by Angelou, each poem illuminates a different facet of human avarice. Let these words inspire deeper reflections on the corrupting force of *greed* and, hopefully, foster a renewed commitment to empathy, kindness, and the pursuit of a more equitable world.