Possessions are like a heaped pile of iron,

When you are a man of flesh, less the bone,

You give your burning best; then on your laurels rest,

But the day you turn dust, they all fall to rust!

✩✩✩

A man of flesh and a man of Greed,

Sure not selfless, he will not breed,

in this miserable world with his wife-

for he'll face a fist with a fatal knife!

✩✩✩

Let me tell you a tale:

In a fall, in the shivering gale,

was a farmer, brought for the King's trial,

with his face, so hungry and stale.

✩✩✩

"Why would you steal?"

the ruler, with grace, had asked.

"For mine children's meal."

From the farmer, the words were passed.

✩✩✩

"Why wouldn't you work hard,

and earn your children's bread?

Now, speak, and do not be tensed

For death you mayn't be sentenced."

✩✩✩

Replied the farmer, "I've two a hand,

But to work, I have no land."

Feeling bad, the king shook his head,

at the helpless farmer, eyes so red.

✩✩✩

"O! You have my sympathy,

that I make you an offer, so worthy,

Run far till your limbs can take you and

return before the sundown- you'll possess that land."

✩✩✩

So the man set off with his journey,

nothing could he think in the hurry,

that he forgot to eat his meal-

not realising it could cost a big deal.

✩✩✩

How far will you run, oh mighty loon?

With burning sun adorning the noon,

Heat and hunger will consume you soon,

and will you return before the rise of moon?

✩✩✩

The sun, behind the hills, sank.

The mind of the farmer shrank;

he heard himself mumble,

"I've to return to the Humble."

✩✩✩

Behind the hills, the sun had just dipped,

the tired farmer, stumbled and tripped,

reduced to the boned as he gasped,

falling down the throne, and he gasped!

✩✩✩

He gasped for he'd run like a blizzard,

but his throat felt dry like a lizard.

He tried his best to save his breath,

But soon he met the inevitable death.

✩✩✩

With his children, watching him swoon,

they dug a pit under the glowing moon.

He was buried, like a landlord, indeed.

Only six feet of land did he need.

✩✩✩

When will you learn, my fellow man,

to loosen the grip on your possession?

For six feet earth will you ever need,

So give the life a better heed!

✩✩✩

Inspired by a story once told by Leo Tolstoy.

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