I found a lamp with a genie
who would my every wish confer
A caveat ~ in seven days
things would go back, like they were.
I thought to wish for riches
Diamonds, jewels and gold.
A castle on the highest hill
and happiness untold.
I almost wished for love
like you see in fairy tales
but just before I make a wish
my perspicacity prevails.
Will I find myself much happier;
after seven days of bliss?
Or will I be dissatisfied.
And long for what I miss?
I asked myself what wishes would
help me treasure what I possess
and my first wish wasn’t for something more
…it was, to have much less.
Then you may not believe it,
but I wished for unrelenting pain
so I’d know that I could face it
without going quite insane.
Next I wished for hunger
the gnawing aching kind
And no matter how I begged for food
I wished for none to find.
I wished to lose my family
and know they’d not return.
I also wished for sorrow
so I’d ache and cry and yearn.
For seven days my wishes raged
As the genie had arranged
and when my former life resumed
I was forever changed.
Patricia Gibson-Williams
March 10, 2005
Author notes
As soon as I read the rules for this contest this idea hit me. I'm not sure I'm finished refining the poem (suggestions are welcome) but I really wanted to post this and get some feedback. I loved your idea and while I'm not sure this is what you had in mind I want to thank you for inspiring me and making me realize how much I have to be thankful for. Patti
Written March 10th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- If You Could Change Your Life for One Week by ShaShay.
1000 points, ended March 16, 2005, 10 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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This is a wonderful thing.. I read the rules for this contest *I was reading other poems and found it*
I'm so glad that there are people in this world that think that way, who are kind, and would give there life so someone might have something better..
To know the pain others go through every day due to hunger, pain.. depression.. anything that can main and destroy.. to think you might ask for that.. so you could better understand what it was to feel, to be..
I applaud you. -
I forgot...Thanks again.
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This was exactly what I was looking for. You did a magnificent job with word choice, meter and style. Thank you for sharing this wonderful message.
~~~POO~~~ -
Amazing
I am in awe. This is a very humbling write. It is a unique take on the contest idea and one which I never would have thought of. Its a beautiful piece. Amazing.
Jack -
A beautiful, humbling write you penned here. If you were offered the riches of the world, you'd choose to forego the lust of life to know what a misfortunate way of life would feel like. That's amazing. I admire you.
vj
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Dont ever quit writing
OMG this is beautiful.I was thinking along the same lines when I read the contest, but I could never top this. This really reminds me of JOB in the Bible.He suffered soo much and lost everything and still his faith remained in God.I hope that you have these honest feelings and I congradulate you on a beautiful piece. -
i like this alot hey! ya i entered the contest... there are only 4 so far.. but i think urs will win... good luck.. and check out mine would ya ?
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I was gripped by this. I think it would have been easy to seep into cliche with this, but you kept it original because of the deeper meanings you imply. It it about human strength and testing ourselves etc?
You have really thought about what you were doing here, and It was a joy to read! (by the way it sickens me to have to leave such glowing comments because I always try to find improvements to suggest! - But I genuinely think this is fine as it is).
Chel x -
I stand amazed by this I make no bones about my love for poetry that rhymes and weaves a story and you have accomplished this in a very special way this is uplifting and challenging and down right charming in its execution you have won a fan
Edited on Mar 10, 1:22 because ''. -
hmmmm this is a good write and yea i think everyone wishes that they could see what theire lives would be like for a week if a wish granted that lol i wish i could be a normal person but im not;good luck in the contest ur in and keep up the good work
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