A deathless life and wealth beyond compare
and never laboring: these are the three
conditions legends say we would repair,
if granted wishes. Immortality
or gold is first, the other next, and work-
avoidance makes the third gratuity.
Then fables twist such boons into berserk
results the would-be wishers failed to see.

A better lesson lurks. There’s more to learn
than how to choose with syntax well-expressed.
An endless life is lonely. Cash to burn
requires heed to donate and invest,
and worst would be removal of the need
to work to taste the power to succeed.