The Magic Ring

The Magic Ring

(7/24/1986)

Unto the poor country of Drake
  Came a traveler to see the king.
“Lead to gold your wealth to make
  With the aid of my magic ring.”

The Kingdom Drake is so poor,
  It yet has not any lead.
“Then it should be the first chore
  To dig it from its bed.”

The word went out to the county
  To start to mine the ore.
Peasants would receive a bounty
  When the kingdom was no longer poor.

“We need to smelt the ore to metal
  And gather it all here.
We need to build the smelting kettle
  And roads which reach to there.”

So roads were built and foundries founded
  To draw the metal from fire.
The din and noise of industry sounded
  From every village and shire.

Commerce grew and, with it, trade
  With all the nearby neighbors.
Extra lead into trinkets made
  Brought gold from workers' labors.

Rich grew the Kingdom of Drake
  Ere lead to the traveler they bring.
“Lead to gold your wealth to make
  With the magic of industry's ring.”