Genie-ology

   

Once upon a time, there was a creative genie.

Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, the genie

Bestowed great riches, lighting the way through the dark.

And words never before spoken began to flow

From the enlightened, woven into fanciful tapestries,

Startling and delightful to even themselves.

As we could have predicted, those lucky enough to be

Favored by the genie became addicted, 

Believing him to be their muse.  Inevitably, however, 

There came the day – as it did, oh, maybe once a decade or so 

(Or maybe not) - when the faithful fell out of favor and the genie

Became bored.  Lured by an obsession with muse-ical entertainments 

Unattainable, poof, the genie was gone, taking hearts with him 

(For sustenance?), disappearing like a thief in the night.

The genie’s faithful fell to their knees, and 

Tore their hair, and beat their empty chests, and

Wailed, and there was great sadness and turmoil in the land.

So dependent had they become on the genie’s largess and 

Guidance, without him, creative words froze in their mouths and, 

Though they tried to speak anyway, they failed and fell mute.   

Hands outstretched, groping, feeling their way, they bumbled 

About in the dark, but could find nothing of value to say.

Ah, but when the genie disappeared, in his place appeared 

Another gift,one perhaps more precious than all the rest.   

Lacking the guidance they’d come to expect from the genie, 

The abandoned were forced to look for it within themselves.

And, lo. Much to their surprise, they rediscovered their hearts, and

The strength within, and many words they never knew they had.   

And there was peace again in the land.

Say, did I mention that as well as creative, the genie was

Unusually smart? Oh, yes, indeed, that he was.

Though he hadn’t completely accepted the unattainability of

His own fantasy muse, he may have recognized a degree of difficulty

Or maybe he just realized the value of what he had tossed aside.

In any case, he returned.to the land.

I wish I could say "And they lived happily ever after."

But the end of the story remains unwritten.

And so shall it stay. At least by this story-teller.

This is all I have to say about the genie. It remains to him

To write the rest of the story.  

Genie, over to you.  

And out.

***

This was written for One Shot Wednesday.