The Golden Breads Poem by Joseph S. Josephides

King Pythis loved frantically the gold, so
he built a villa near the miles to stay close.

His wife and queen used to read sages,
one day she made golden breads for dinner,
then he, so hungry, realized the value of plain
things: a bread, a bird, a stable for animals,
the aura and warmth of his wife, so missed.

The power turns, and Xerxes vanquished him,
killed Pythis’ son who would nurse him when old
then he took his other two sons to fight with him
so he philosophized life and built a plain tomb
mapped a stream from the palace to this tomb
settled there and gave the scepter to his wife,
ordering her to send him simple food with a raft.

I see him now sitting on the grave and writing
one day the raft would pass by untouched
when the ascetic king passes away implicitly,
God provides for the future of each repentant.
Memory retains what is worthy of survival,
let vain glory flows along with stream and time.



© JosephJosephides