Fickle Fate

There was a time I had it all;
But then I slipped and let it fall;


I used to own, I used to rule, I always had my way;
No one ever tried to stop me, lest they knew they'd pay;


On just a whim, I would tell him, to do whatever I said;
I'd make him fight, I'd watch his plight, I laugh when he was dead;


I held my cup and watched it fill, I watched it overflow;
I had my jewels and precious stones, I loved to watch them glow;


The strength of many, the rule of all, I was the one supreme;
The love of women, envy of men, I lived the kingdom dream;


I toyed with fate, I ate her fruit, and spat it in her face;
She took my worth and left me nothing, putting me in my place;


A beggars son, my spouse my queen, no longer kingdom's pride;
The fate has swept me under the run, in shadows I must hide;


Knocked from my throne, my kingdom yours, she even tipped my crown;
The robes of silk and lion's fur, are now just tatters and brown;


A cruel fate she;
What's been done to me;
Has actually brought some glee;


No worries, no strife, I'm home tonight, my wife is waiting up;
I eat and drink and sing my songs with water in my cup;


My son get's told a story, of things that once were true;
He sits and says "Can this be so? All things belonged to you?";


It is in fact, I gave it back, for the one thing I adore;
That's you, your mother, and you sister, little Elenore;


For without you, my riches were, just trophies from the war;
So when I traded lady fate, what I got was so much more;


She said I'd miss it, and that I do, the power makes man free;
But I'd give everything again, just to keep my fam-i-ly.


What's more important to you?  Would you risk everything to have and keep a loving family?  Or does money drive you so hard that you'd give up on a real connection and familial substance for another few bucks?