the gold standard

someone found sparkly yellow

stuff, indifferent deep in the ground

wet in pebbles too thick to drink

too heavy for wheels

small quantities scattered

"let's make it money"

they said "because it's so pretty..."

now everybody wants what was 

in fort knox as if

every heavy clunk of gold

held a genie inside

with three wishes for riches

and what do you 

do with them

but 

wish for more gold

-- douglas brent smith