The Midas Curse: A Bard’s Tale


Listen in and take heed
To this story of great greed

A man named Midas is the beginning
One who cared only about winning

This man, of a treasure having learned
Became the thing for which he yearned

He traveled up the mountain to reckoned
Eagerly seeking the glory that beckoned

During his climb he found a cave
Unbeknownst that his future turned grave

Inside this cave he became lost
Any wrong turn would come at great cost

But one of the tunnels, wouldn’t you know
Was filled with an ethereal glow

And inside the cavern that was much less dim
A pile of riches, just for him!

The treasure was such a glorious sight
That Midas cried out with great delight

At once, a powerful spirit appeared
And Midas knew it was to be feared

The ancient spirit then said thus:
“Man of greed, creating a fuss

The ambitions that led you here
They ring both loud and clear

For I can see inside your heart
There is no charity, not even part

So, I lay upon you a curse
One that greatly affects your purse

The spell will flow through your blood
And drown your family like a flood

The only way to dispel my decree
Is to offer something great to me

A priceless gift known South and North
Something that you could never bring forth

I have brought an end to your fun
Go! Now is the time for you to run”

The man did run as he was told
Never again speaking to spirits of old

This hex for him was quite a strain
For touching gold would cause him pain

One of a burning in his core
So gold he could touch nevermore

The curse spread through generations with ease
It’s easily seen how they tired of this disease

Each new child held the same ambition
To be rich still, even with this condition

Trying to not let go of hope
Each had different ways to cope

Sometimes others held their money
A solution to them not at all funny

One tried only to use jewels
But it is not so easy to bend the rules

The curse then grew to fit
Whoever had befallen it

All types of riches then became
Something they could not obtain

Soon enough, they would become poor
The very people they used to abhor

The family knew to memorize
This curse that had caused them their demise

They knew of the gift they’d have to be making
But none knew of the shape it would be taking

Eventually, a great-great-grandson
Had something that must be done

He traveled up the mountain as Midas did
Where all knew that the spirit hid

Upon arriving at the cave
He knew he needed to be brave

In order to call the spirit out
The man gave forth a mighty shout

“Spirit I am here to deal
Let me offer my appeal”

The spirit began to visualize
And stared at the man with patient eyes

The man, urged to continue
Now put in words his great issue

“My wife now home, is sick in bed
Without a doctor, she’ll soon be dead

Oh, ancient spirit born of old
All I ask is for a little gold

In order thus to save my wife
I shall gladly give my life”

The spirit smiled and then it said,
“There’s not a deceitful thought in your head

You have offered me something grand
Can I so easily stop the hourglass’ sand?

Your offer is enough to show
That I should halt the undertow

Take the gold here that you need
But you must henceforth take the lead

Share the reason my curse was lifted
That others may become less twisted”
The man did heed then this command
And spread this word throughout the land:

Never let greed be your foundation
Else you face great desolation.