I watch
As you turn into a
A hapless fool
Before the pot of gold

Charmed
By the bright yellow
Lured in
By dreams of wealth

I watch you succumb
To the tendrils of greed
Until you are no longer
The you that I knew

The you that I’ve seen
Until everything I once knew
Of you has ceased to be.

Though I tried to reason,
Though I tried to tow,
Though I tried to force you
Back into the light of day

You couldn’t see it that way
Again and again,
You pushed me away.

Leaving me
To helplessly watch you change
Into a shell,
A shadow of who you once were

An inhumane monster
Driven only by monetary gains
With eyes so lofty,
That I can no longer understand

Gone,
Were your once rich emotions
Gone,
Were your past ambitions

Your values,
Your goals,
The things that made you human

So one by one,
They leave.

Your friends,
Your family,
All that once formed
Your supportive tree

You had once said
Wealth would set you free
Releasing you
From your worries

You had once said,
Wealth would let you
Be happy with family.

But I wonder if you’d
Still think so now,
Now that you’ve seen,
What you have came to be.

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This poem was inspired by a writing prompt from the “Storyteller’s Vault” Publication.

Pot of Gold
charmed | hapless