The Brass Ring

It was a hot and sunny day,
Everything bright and shiny,
I was walking near Stone Bay,
Feeling down and grimy.

As I walked by something caught my eyes,
Glinting in the sun, twinkling in the grass,
I found a pretty ring to my surprise,
There was a diamond with a body from brass.

I thought nothing of it as days go by,
Kept thinking of my luck and my state of mind,
I remembered my debts; they make me sigh,
Oh dear, oh dear, I’m in such a bind.

One night I was sleeping, talking in my dreams,
I saw three witches twirling and dancing,
Rub the ring, rub it; the sweet witch screams,
It will help you she said, with your financing!

A second witch came forth, with her warning,
Use it wise she said, use it sparingly,
Do not use the ring to fill all your yearnings,
Let not your greed mar its purity.

The third witch danced and twirled towards me,
She gave another reminder for me to hear,
Misuse the ring and you will never be free,
From a life of pain, poverty and fear.

I woke up with a start, sweat covered my skin,
I looked at the ring, twinkling in the night,
I held it in my hand, thought I’d give it a spin,
I rub and rub with all my might!

The ring glowed blue; the light so bright,
I wished for all my troubles to go away,
I wished for all the money to help my plight,
I wished for the ring not to let me astray.

I woke the next morning, feeling odd,
The sheets were satin, not the cotton I used,
This was not my lovely bed, I thought.
Nor this bedroom mine, I felt so confused.

I walked to the parlour, looked out the window,
Saw my carriages parked in the drive way,
All the riches to start spending on the morrow,
I danced and twirled and I sang and sway!

These fortunes were mine and mine to keep,
But I wanted more to please my heart,
I wanted new gowns perhaps a flock sheep,
That was when it all started to fall apart.

A few months passed, living in wealth,
A greed in me that could not be slaked,
I had money, I had friends, and I had my health,
But there was no happiness that could be faked.

That night I slept, tossing and turning,
I dreamt of the witches, they visited me,
They said to me, I heed not their warning,
The ring will now, take its fee.

I asked them what would the fee be?
They said my wealth and my riches,
I told them no, I could not agree,
The ring is mine, not yours, witches!

The pretty witch sneered and said to me,
If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?
I laughed and laughed, I felt so glee,
A great idea, I told her; I have to admit.

The second witch came forth with a wise advice,
Let it go, child, leave the greed behind,
Do not use the ring again, do not think twice,
Do it for the sake of the sanity of your mind.

I laughed and laughed at their absurdity,
How can a simple ring harm me?
Said the witch to me~
Pain and ill fortune for eternity,
That is how the ring will harm thee.

I woke up again covered in sweat,
The fear I felt was fleeting at best,
The warning was nothing, not even a threat,
All forgotten now, all seemed like a jest.

To the fair I went, held in my name,
Dressed in a satin gown, wished from the ring,
I walked to a tent of great standing and fame,
Inside was a wizard to tell what the future brings.

I dropped my coin inside the jar,
Sit my child he said, what would you ask?
Will my wealth and riches stretch far?
To tell me the answer is your task.

The wizard smiled and waved his hand,
Offered me a plate with one single cookie,
Your destiny is mystery, he said, but it is all planned,
Perhaps inside, a fortune that could be the key.

I took the cookie without further thought,
Broke apart the shell to see my fate,
As I read the scroll, my shoulders taut,
Misery, poverty and pain are what await.

So it has begun the curse of the ring,
Came to me in a fortune cookie with an evil fortune,
What punishment for me would life bring?
What will the ring teach me; hurt, shame or misfortunes?