May 20

Ten Cents

Second in line

lives in your pocket

she'll click when your knee aches

and jingle when you left-hand-jostle

to remind yourself she's there

her olive branch is

right next to her torch for you

and the Great Oak will remind her longing heart that even the most steadfast among us are cut down for a sideboard

She isn't first

if something happened you'd go for the dollar

she'd still sit, listening, imagining your face

waiting for your fingers

for even tarnished you know her shape

and can imagine, in your mind from the hospital bed

she's bright and shining like the first day you earned her

you look over at your pants folded neatly on the blue-backed sterile chair

did she fall out

or is she still there

you will not know unless you reach for her

again