Here comes this genie
reeking of anise
and cagey as a lawyer
who just passed the bar.
This prince of twilight proclaims
he will grant –
it is never “bestow” or simply “give”
always “grant” –
you three wishes
And although this seems generous
on the face of it, downright festive,
it gradually festers to
a petulant resentment.
Why three wishes?
Why only three?
Which begins to erode
your judgment right there.
Suck a deep breath.
You grew up in this fairy tale
and the rain has been
seeping though your thatch again.
So then.
Wealth
but caught sideways by a stroke of
magnanimous inspiration
you attach the clause
“for everyone”
and kiss “the third world” goodbye.
On a roll.
Health
philanthropy a second skin now,
“for all mankind”.
that sweeps AIDS and malaria
off the chessboard
but what about ADHD?
what about bipolar disorder?
You add
“physical and mental”
hoping a second codicil
wont render the boon null and void.
The scent of cardamon waxes.
So far, so good.
But now you need
to hone your wits.
You are loathe to squander –
and it is never “misspend”, or simply “waste” –
always “squander”
the third wish.
“This is not a wish,”
you are careful to stipulate.
His teeth display
an eighty-eight piano key smile.
“Do you mind
while I’m considering
if I make a drip-press cup of coffee –
for both of us?”
A hospitable offer
you hope cancels
your petty assessment of
his miserly triad of wishes.
You and the coffee press
hiss out exhausted frustration.
Happiness?
Wait! No!
that would inevitably stick a sausage
at the end of someone’s nose.
You are well versed in sausages regretted,
string theory, buyers remorse,
the domino effect, pop psychology.
But especially the elusiveness of
Happiness.
Likewise
Peace.
Can the third wish be
three more wishes?
Another keyboard grin
and a whiff of nutmeg
with just a taint of brimstone.
A Red Pony!
In the way that wishes
are wants
and should never be confused
with needs
you sense the rightness
of your choice.
Your sadistic uncle promised you a red pony
and 50 years later
your third wish
in a puff of clover and cloves
is granted.
