Melissa, who perished because she was full of greed

Melissa was a greedy child

She was not loud, she was not wild,

Nor did she kick or shout or bite

Or gnash her teeth or start a fight.

She mostly did as she was told

But greediness had taken hold.

At any meal she would contrive

To eat a portion meant for five!

At birthdays and at Christmas too

Her mound of presents grew and grew

In fact she really made a fuss

Was even wont to swear and cuss

Unless her mum and dad went mad

With gifts supporting every fad.

But then befell the dreadful day

When being greedy did not pay!

Melissa then was in the habit

Of walking, somewhat like a rabbit,

With darting eyes and twitching nose

To suss out treasures we suppose

Were lost, abandoned by their owners

A wallet, purse – cash was a bonus!

Melissa had been known to climb

Down steps and alleys full of grime

And root around, a coin to seize

She’d seen it glinting in the leaves!

On the day she met her fate

The details which I now relate,

The family fancied sea and sand

A walk along the cliff was planned.

So as they strolled along the edge,

There was no wall, nor yet a hedge,

Something caught Melissa’s eye

A ten pound note came fluttering by.

Before her Mum could make a sound

Before her Dad could hold her down

Melissa ran and stretched her hand

To grasp the note above the land.

She teetered on the rocky track

As far below the waves beat back

And forth against the towering cliff,

The wind was high, the breeze was stiff,

Melissa reached toward the skies

Her hands outstretched, sun in her eyes

She stepped to snatch the drifting paper,

She stepped too far, and none could save her.

The crumbling cliff edge was her doom

The sea became her watery tomb.

Her parents ran some help to seek

The coastguard said, ‘The outlook’s bleak.’

The lifeboat swiftly put to sea

And like a giant buzzing bee

A helicopter searched the coast

Till daylight failed. And then a host

Of people from the seaside town

Combed the beaches up and down.

Melissa’s body, sad to say,

By the waves was swept away.

Her Mum recounted to her friends

Exactly how Melissa’s end

Could serve a warning, harsh indeed,

Against the ancient sin of greed.

 Hamilton Trust