The Penny

Small moments...

The Penny, coarse and flat, Feels cool between my fingers, It keeps my hand company in a  Dark Empty Pocket. I found it there, buried in the soft folds. No doubt the result of dryer magic. Like an electron, here and there, Free to appear wherever it likes. I hold it tight between my thumb and index finger, Feel its ridged reality But I know that soon my mind will wander It will disappear. I would never spend it. On what? I wouldn’t think to save it either. Another will come along easily enough. And yet, like the brilliance of a midnight epiphany, Soon I will forget. It will drift from my mind. Where did I place it?  But that is later. For now... I'm not searching for dollars for more and many, the countless many propelling the future relentlessly forward. The Penny is warm against my hand Comfortably wrapped In a cotton cocoon, For one moment more.  Slowly emerging,                              Born to the world, Phasing into time                             from some dreamless place. Kissed by my thumb it leaps, A metallic flip in the morning light, End        over              End,  Faded Lincoln, 1999.

Reviews

[ranscan]

an interesting conjurer's illusion. The structure and flow is consistent, a strong partner to the reaching theme. The language of the symbolism is quite striking, the imagery turned just enough to refract light.
I would suggest that the use capital letters for each of the words in the fourth line is unnecessary, but not a deal breaker in any way. The form seems to escape in the last half, either by purposeful design for style or simply as a result of a natural alteration as it reaches for the conclusion, I am unsure.
Still a lovely work, which ended with "Faded Lincoln, 1999.", perhaps an alternate title for this piece?

[JE_Platypus]

Thanks for the suggestions! Your right, "Faded Lincoln, 1999" is a better title. Also, about the structure changing in the second half, that was definitely intentional - I was trying to show the speaker moving out of thoughts and coming into the real world (and that world breaking down again in the last two stanzas).

Free verse is a lot of fun, but it can be difficult to walk the line between being specific and outright "on the nose." Your comments will help me to do this better in the future. Thanks!

[JE_Platypus]

...I think I meant *you're right.

[Taylor]

I love how you described everything that happens to the penny. To be honest I always loses my penny's to. Keep writing its great!

[Rich]

Significance within common insignificance? Well done!

[E.Jay]

I love that you made an entire poem out of a penny. I enjoyed every second of this poem, it was a very fun read. it was super creative. I love the ending " Kissed by my thumb it leaps, a metallic flip in the morning light, end over end, Faded Lincoln 1999." That is my favorite part of the whole poem. I enjoyed how you wrote " end over end" as if it were falling to the ground or flipping through the air. This piece was beyond excellent.

[JE_Platypus]

Thanks for the comments! I'm glad the end over end part was viewed as the penny flipping through the air. That was exactly what I was going for!