The Curse of the Coin

With weathered hands, she reached inside
Her pockets deep and grasped the gold
Pulled it out and as it hit the light
The sparkle of the tarnish glowed.

She flipped it up into the air as I watched it fall
I saw the twist of tarnished gold and how to me it called.

With greedy fingers I snatched the gold
And looked with eyes so bright
The coin took hold, my very soul
And held me that fateful night.

With haste I hurried to my home upon the street of stone
Not tarrying for I now knew my life was not my own.

Inside the darkness of my shanty home
Beneath the glow of a single light
I set to shine this piece of gold
Scrubbing, true, with all my might.

With each caress of cloth on gold, A tremble deep inside
Came to rest within my heart that my mind could not confide.

In wee hours of the morning's dawn
Upon the mist of winter's dew
A wicked life from the coin was spawned
Within my soul it sprung anew.

A darkness formed inside of me, that I could not resist
With hands of ice it captured me and drove me into madness.

My eyes now linger on this sacred stone
It's showed me many horrid things
It's showed me of a life alone
And the evil that it brings

So now I sit, I toss the coin, up to the darkened sky
Then catch it in my pocket, and keep it there to hide.

With weathered hands, I reach inside
My pockets deep, and grasp the gold
I pull it out and as it hits the light
The sparkle of the tarnish glows...