King Midas in Reverse

King Midas in Reverse

late night reverie

souls in flux

God's kids nullified

with starvation

but still praising him with

final breaths

as King Midas

falls in his own Gold Halls

while the speaker in his 

fallen house

surveys the devastation

realizing

he gave his loyalty

to the wrong royalty.

erin-cilberto

11/4/25

Reviews

[redd Brick Keshner]

Hey j, I am quite touched by this. Of wealth and false power that cannot save us; and devotion to the wrong rulers leads to ruin. It is both a critique of greed and a confession of misplaced faith, using the myth of King Midas to show how gold becomes a curse rather than a blessing. My mind's take on it was everything that the anti-Midas touched turned to lead, lol. But that's just me. 🕊️🙏
Freds

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hear ya, Freds. We are getting a lot of lead right now.
j.

[John the Baptist]

The speaker and his cohorts are fortunate that they cannot read what history will say of them fifty years hence. King Midas has probably convinced himself that his image will grace Mount Rushmore. It's time for the 25th amendment.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

A fifth face on the mountain....or maybe they will just show his butt.
thanks, John.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

King Midas in Reverse, the title of a song by the Hollies, way back in time. Loyalty given to the wrong royalty. How devastating to realize your faith has been totally misplaced. A personal awakening and tragic with it.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

And that was one of my favorite songs by them...seldom played but on their greatest hits.
At least one version of their greatest.
Thanks, Chris.
j

[Desert Knave]

I am not sure that the speaker in his house will ever realize it. They truly have found their own demi-god. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Jim....but what you say is so true.
I find such disgust these days I cannot help but write about it.
j.

[Jansy]

Jacob, this reads like a parable told after midnight, half prayer, half punchline. King Midas in his own gold halls is such a vivid downfall, like glittered irony turned tragic. That closing line, “loyalty to the wrong royalty”, is wickedly clever and true.

We humans do have a habit of worshipping the shiniest fool in the room, do we not? This poem feels like a philosopher’s smirk after realizing enlightenment might just be humility in disguise.

Brilliant,
-James

[jacob erin-cilberto]

You make me feel like a poet with your reviews, James...thanks so much.
j.