A penny is a small offering,
a good luck token, which
an old grandmother might
sew into the corner
of a blanket, and
give to a baby.

A penny, by itself,
is nothing.  Like us, 
it needs companions, 
and then it finds
some small purpose.
It is enough,
perhaps, to satisfy 
a child's lust for sweets.

The child grows,
and soon scorns a penny.
He drops it on the tracks
to be flattened
by the first passing freight.

A man has no use
for a penny, unless
he is reckless, and
wont to push it
in a fusebox.

A penny is worthless,
but basic to all
the currency you own,
or ever will own,
and when you are
finished running
and dreaming
and collecting,
it is pennies
which will close your eyes.

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