Andersens Fairy Tale. The Tinder-Box

Once upon a time in a kingdom so grand,
A soldier roamed with a tinder-box in hand,
A treasure he sought, a wish to be fulfilled,
For riches untold, his heart was stilled.

With a flick of his wrist, he struck the box bright,
A genie appeared in the night.
"Your wish is my command," the genie said,
"Three treasures untold, await ahead."

So the soldier asked for wealth untold,
And a castle fit for a king to hold,
The genie obliged with a snap and a grin,
And wealth untold, he had within.

The soldier felt grand, with a heart full of pride,
But wealth was short-lived, and so too his ride,
For the king, envious of the soldier's wealth,
Demanded the secret of his newfound wealth.

The soldier then told of the tinder-box's might,
And the genie's magic, a guiding light.
But the king was greedy, he wanted the power,
So he took the box and summoned the genie's tower.

The genie obeyed, but with a warning too,
"Beware the three dogs, with eyes as blue."
The king, not heeding, called forth the hounds,
And their bark so loud, echoed resounded.

The king was no match for the dogs' might,
His wealth and his life, vanished in sight.
The soldier returned, with his tinder-box bright,
And lived a life, rich, but with wisdom in sight.

The moral is clear, be careful what you wish,
For wealth untold, can lead to greed's dish,
And though riches may come, they may soon depart,
It's wisdom and love that keep you in the heart.