snake in a genie's lamp

one salvation, one lord, one route the old horse neighs, trots begrudgingly then the steps become light when clarity washes bleary eyes. splendor, peaks, carrots. tons of it and a mountain full of it. through twist, turns, meanders, lots of prods, nudging to sway habits transforming from simple days at the farm. gallop away till the dust covers back steps no longer marked. bowels of stone, eyes jaded with what has become apparent. the cake and icing swallowed by a giant rat, with more gorging till the belly is filled with sand from a ruined desert giving up a genie's ghost. the peak has arrived, the crest has fallen, with lamentable hindsight when a transformed horse gazes at simple farm days unable to flinch as a wishing well sings her last song of forgotten days when green grass stayed green. stayed with a joyous bite. for now the goal is met, the path has been wandered, a contract fulfilled - then a snake slithers out from a broken lamp from a short cut found of promises. made by gods, lords from desires within. their face erodes, leaving only what is left. a wretched grin wincing from utopia attained but the life in that paradise does not quite fit. and utopia misses the mark when it becomes quite clear how things really work: the genie who has granted all these wishes, left one thing out. you've changed. something given, something taken is a fair trade when quick fixes, routes beneath heaven's gate extract their price of a soul freely given for a world shining like a genie's lamp. everything. a rat lunges suddenly with eyes red with hate - given heaven, unable to taste heaven. don't belong here, the genie sorrowfully gasped - never did. this desert shows mirages, idols that pull like a magnet while the cave mouth opens wide and you'll never see the jaws of a snake till the darkness is inside. that's hell for ya. darkness within, heaven outside. and a rat froths, spittle away with saliva dropping like raindrops on a roof filled with mass of wriggling dissonant bodies all claiming to have been played. and that's the echo that stretches - from a serpent's heart: still following me, as usual the voice like music, and what music it was! till the sky finally parted, the veil vanished, a grinning master takes the cake.