Greed Brings Poverty

I found a penny on the ground
It is mine I declared with pride
With this I will buy a crown
Nothing for me will ever be denied

I had amassed an enormous treasure
Though bold lies and dreadful deceit
I purchased every conceivable pleasure
Yet my wealth was not replete

The poor became poorer around me
But I did not care about their needs
I abounded because of their poverty
In my garden of plenty, they were the seeds

A beggar once came to my door
And I laughed at his sullen face
My wealth is mine; it's not to save the poor
Leave me alone you wretched disgrace

His eyes began to haunt me in my dreams
An awareness of my hollow soul grew
Was this the reward of all my schemes?
I questioned all I once knew

Vanity, vanity my soul cried
But I continued to pursue more and more
Until I felt all delight in me had died
I began to envy the wretched poor

What must I do to inherit life?
I asked of no one there
The silence cut like a knife
I felt empty, alone and bare

In my brokenness I became poor
I no longer wanted what did not satisfy
I ceased my accumulation of more
It was then I heard a voice cry

“Sell all you have and give it away
Follow me and you will have life”
I went to my knees and I began to pray
I felt peace conquer my strife

Now I am rich in kindness and deeds
I have no money to buy my desires
I live with the poor and meet their needs
I do only what my God and king requires