“He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow.” – W W Jacobs, “The Monkey’s Paw”

I’ve got all I want, he said; daft to use magic
When warned that the outcome would surely be tragic!
Indeed, the last owner had told him to burn it
So why did he buy it, not sensibly spurn it?
His lesson, the reason — for each needs to learn it.

Impish and simian, our craving for more!
What sorcery can alter what fate holds in store?
Impelled by a need to improve on his lot
Spurred on by the thought of the people he’s not
He’ll wish on the talisman, no matter what.

Insane curiosity, meddlesome madness
Will end as it must in full measure of sadness.
I wonder, though; maybe a cleverer man 
Schooled well in such tales (and I’m surely a fan) 
Has prospects of winning? I’m sure that I can ….

[Simon MacCulloch lives in London and has published poetry in a wide variety of print and online journals.]