Born a product of praise, gentle and warm,
Spread as a content sense of attachment,
But before you know it I cause the harm,
You believe only your accomplishment. 

And before long vanity blossoms high,
You think you are surely beyond compare,
Goodness in others you start to deny,
To be the only one in spotlight's glare.

Intoxicating the feeling I give,
A deep pleasure that slowly fills your head,
Changes everything, you, the way you live,
And arrogance through your being does spread.

It has been said, I goeth before a fall,
If you believe, you don't know me at all.

You believe it is self esteem at best,
Victory born of your hard work and toil,
But I rarely give you a moment's rest,
In inflated opinion you embroil.

You think you're perfect, It's a delusion,
Effortlessly, I can turn man to beast,
But then I create quite a confusion,
I am controversial, to say the least.

For some say I am a virtue almost,
That emotional high when you've done great,
A fulfillment and a delight utmost,
Which to civilised progress most equate.

For in most righteous angels too I stride,
First of the deadly sins, my name is pride.