Midas’ Touch

How would it have felt to King Midas
talking with Dionysus, the god of Vine
to have a gold touch on everything?

how did it feel to lay his palms on anything,
just anything
to turn it to gold, instant wealth?

for a moment, what would have been the joy
of creating wealth with bare hands
with a touch
just a simple touch?

but such is the folly of the touch
King Midas surmised
with a touch, everything is turned to gold
trees still and unmoving
handshakes solid and brittle
food turned to gold

though precious, mortals,
gold can’t give us warmth
for therein lies the irony of the Midas touch

C) Lorot Salem 2010