Nine Wishes

New Prompt: A genie pops out of your magic bottle and says that

because Writing.com is having its ninth birthday this week,

instead of the usual three wishes, you get nine.

Only there are some additional rules . . .

What are the rules? What happens?

While walking down the beach one day, a bottle did I find.
It was old and needed polish. So, I took it home to shine.
While rubbing its curves and carvings, a cloud of smoke appeared.
I was frightened and I dropped it. Poisoned gas, was what I feared.

Just Iike the lamp that’s in Aladdin, a genie popped right out!
It was a fantastic bottle!  Of this, I had no doubt!
The genie thanked me profusely and offered me a gift.
It had several stipulations that set my poor mind adrift.

If these rules I would just follow great wishes would be mine.
I could have such great treasures with wishes numbering nine!
First rule, I must not be selfish in wishing just for me.
I must include some others less fortunate, don’t you see.

Second, harming other people would cancel all the rest.
Third rule that I must follow really caused a greater test.
He said that I must be willing to give something in return.
A sacrificial token, and these wishes I would earn.

I looked back at him with wonder and questioned what he asked?
What item must I give him? What constraint would be unmasked?
He said in return for wishes, at the end of nineteen years
I would become the genie; the bottle would disappear.

I gave this great consideration, before I said I choose
to take the nine great wishes.  What would I have to lose?
You see, I’d just had a birthday, I had turned seventy-one.
I knew I’d be 100. A genie’s life could be fun!

After many hours of thinking, I wished then for world peace.
I wished there would be no hunger, and all violence would cease.
For my family, I wished they would continue in good health
and never have to want at all or lack material wealth.

Five wishes for now I have used.  I still have left four more.
But I have time left to ponder, what I might next wish for.
I am living out my lifetime, in the lap of luxury.
And what a time I am having, because of that genie!

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