The Feast of Fools – Poem On Selfishness, Worldly Desires, Greed, and Being Self-Centered
Gather ’round for the Feast of Fools
Where all fantasies are fulfilled,
No demand is too extreme,
and all desires are devoured.
So pull up a chair
And take your seat at the table.
Your wish is thy command.
Whatever you are starving for will be served.
Oh, don’t worry
About restraining your selfish desires.
We’re happy to prepare whatever
It is you’re seeking.
“I’ll take a million dollars,” one man said.
“A million…that’s all?” said another.
“I’ll take a billion –
I’m absolutely starving.”
“I’ll take an innocent, young girl –
One that’s just turned 18.
I’ll put some experience in her, huh?”
He said, nudging the man sitting next to him.
“Forget that,” said the man next to him.
“She won’t even know what she’s doing.
Give me the one that’s open to anything
And has no shame.”
And the demands continued around the table.
“Serve me up some success.
I want to be the head of the organization
And take orders from no one.”
“Give me that red sports car
I’ve always wanted.
I just know I’ll finally be happy
Once I get it.”
“Serve me up a man
Who makes me feel special everyday,
Comes loaded with cash,
And willing to do whatever I say.”
“Build me a mansion so big
That I can parade around like a king.
Fill it with expensive toys
And butlers to fetch my every need.”
And as the men and women shouted their orders
From the lines of chairs at the table,
Desires became real
And appeared before them on their plates.
Each person sank their teeth
Into their meals
And sucked their cravings
Down to the bone – no crumbs remained.
“The Feast of Fools is complete.
Thank you all for coming.
Dinner will be served in the hall
Tomorrow, same as always.”
The people left the hall with bulging bellies,
But still weren’t full or satisfied.
Each silently reminded themselves
To ask for a larger meal tomorrow.
– Poem Written by Justin Farley
Behind the Poetry
It is easy to look at the danger of worldly desires and selfishness in the lives of people at the top. But the inspiration for this poem did not come from judging rich, selfish celebrities, but from judging my own self-centered, worldly desires. What is it in your life that you would ask for at the feast? There is nothing that you can devour that will bring you happiness or fill you up externally; it is only going to continue to leave you starving and hungry. Anytime we believe we can digest a worldly meal and think that it can fix us, we’re eating a feast for fools. Hopefully you enjoyed this poem.
photo credit: Jared Zimmerman via photopin cc
