There is a kind of drunkenness resulting from a pursuit of wealth which causes a person to lose his inner peace. HaRav Shimon Sofer, son of the Chasam Sofer, possessed the gift of poetry.
Once, when he was taking a walk in a park between Eisenstadt and Mattersdorf, he was met by HaRav Ezriel Hildesheimer who asked to look at the handwritten pages he held which contained two poetic pieces, "Tiferess Netzach Yisroel" and "Shir Hadas." He was so moved by them that he asked permission to submit them to the "Shomer Zion Hane'eman" publication which he put out.
In the wake of the positive public response, HaRav Shimon composed another poem about the stock market which was developing at the time. People were becoming wealthy overnight while others lost everything they owned. Naturally, what suffered most was Torah study and tefillah since up till then, even laymen maintained set times for davening and shiurim. Now, the stock market occupied most of the hours of the day and even the night, diverting businessmen's attention to be constantly updated on the news.
HaRav Shimon wrote an acerbic piece in the form of a poem, loosely translated:
"Just like wine for a man, so is wealth for a stock market dealer.
The wine of the former will dissipate instantly, so, too, the stocks of the market dealer.
Drunk but not on wine.
And what does the wicked one say? What does all of this toil do for you? Why do you waste your energy in vain?
Has the minister of the Bourse indentured you by piercing your ear for servitude to him?
Know that he is shackling your soul and that he will not liberate you even in the jubilee year.
Heed, my friends and flee from him like a deer pursued by the hunter - the yetzer hora which spreads its nets to entangle souls.
Return, O sons, to your borders, your synagogues and houses of study. The merit of Torah will save you.
Set hours for Torah study, must remain sacred unto Hashem. Don't profane them by reading the newspapers and keeping up with the latest news..."
It is strong wine, not easily cast offå It is time to wake up and emerge from your drunkenness.
