This sonnet, “Beneath the Gilded Frame of Wealth and Pride,” reflects on the arrival of a wealthy man in a community, adorned with dazzling riches and commanding attention. It questions whether one should be swayed by his material splendor or look deeper to his true character. While wealth may shine brightly, it is fleeting, and pride, not money, often blocks spiritual fulfillment. The sonnet urges judgment based not on transient treasures but on acts of grace, concluding that a person’s worth lies beyond what they possess—humble deeds endure where pride and boldness fade.

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If in your midst a rich man should appear,
With gold and silks to dazzle every eye,
His voice commanding all who linger near,
His wealth a tower reaching to the sky—
Would you, in awe, his every word obey,
Or see the heart beneath the gilded frame?
For riches gleam, yet often fade away,
While humble souls may bear a truer name.
The camel threads no needle’s narrow gate,
Yet pride, not coin, may bar the heav’nly door—
So judge him not by treasure’s fleeting weight,
But by the grace his actions may restore.
A man is more than what his hands can hold,
For humble deeds outlast the proud and bold.