COIN BOX

A BOY IN EIRE IN 1950S

Put the coin in the box,
Colin, Uncle Donal said,
Hear it shake, and he’d

Take up the box and shake
It hard so that the coins
Would rattle loudly.  Do you

Hear that, Colin, that’s the
Change from my purse and
Pocket, the missionaries can

Have that for their work abroad,
To feed and spread the Word.
Will you hush the noise there,

Granddaddy called; I can’t hear
Myself think for the racket of it.
The horses are on the run and I

Can’t hear who is where and who’s
Behind. Uncle Donal put the
Charity box down on the mantel

Shelf with the gentleness of Cousin
Chloe removing her underwear
Before her bath. Ah, feck the horse,

Granddaddy bellowed, I could run
Faster myself so I could. Never bet
On the horses, Colin, he said, they’ll

Let you down and take your money
Just like a woman. Uncle Donal pulled
A face and grinned from ear to ear, as

Grandmother entered the room with
A face of thunder and Granddaddy said,
Oh, hello, wife, how are you my dear?