How often do we choose things impulsively without thinking of possible repercussions? And when our actions come back to haunt us, does an out exist? I had forgotten what happened to King Midas, if I ever knew, and finally reread the entire tale.
Unintended Consequences
Midas,
foolish King of Phrygia,
what were you thinking?
A wish granted by bacchus,
a wish wasted on avarice.
What did you touch first
with your golden gift?
A wine cup, a scroll, or, maybe,
a laurel wreath which changed
into a lustrous crown?
How long before you realized
the grapes in your hand
or the water on your tongue
filled your mouth with bitter metal?
Lucky for you
the god had an antidote.
Lucky for us
after you bathed as he bid,
gold now forever found
in the sands of riverbeds.
Marilyn Aschoff Mellor
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.