Nouveau Qarun (a short poem)

(C) Copyright 2000, Mahmoud A. El-Gamal.

[Background: The Qur'anic "Qarun" ([28:76-82], [29:39], and [40:24]), is identified by exegetes with the biblical Korah (Num. XVI, 1-35), an Egyptian Levite.]
For all his riches, covet not his plight;

the new Qarun whose creed is greed and spite.

He rides the tiger -- ride him well, he might --,

but little knows whom next the beast may bite.

The monstrous tiger mixes left with right,

inoculating each growth-seed with blight,

so learn the lessons of Qarun before

you self-attach to him with dreams of flight:

Riding the beast, you'd be an errant-knight,

and though my metaphor be old and trite,

'tis true that once you mount the tiger you

may not dismount, no matter how contrite.