Count
the coins
exactly for what
you need to purchase,
don’t look the shopkeeper in
the eye, don’t attract attention, be
polite, hide your cracked and dirty nails,
give your meek thanks and leave as quietly
as you entered. Poverty-stricken you don’t have the
option to demand any more than that. Money talks loudest.
You
learned the
rules the hard
way. You want to
pass them on, ease the
path for those that follow in
your shoes but the arrogance of youth
is bravery that you have long forgotten, it
was a lifetime ago. You watch their smiles fade.
They too will learn the hard way. Money talks loudest.
This week on dVerse Meeting the Bar, the lovely Victoria has introduced the poetry form, the Etheree. This is another form new to me, dating from the late 20th century and introduced by Etheree Taylor Armstrong, a poet from Arkansas. Simple enough (perhaps!), the form is one word (or syllable) for the first line, two words (or syllables) for the second and so on, up to the tenth line. Rinse and repeat, reverse, or stop right there, however the mood takes you. It was so much fun to try and no, I have no idea why I wanted to write on the subject matter I chose.
If you love poetry, whether reading or writing it, do visit dVerse. Put your feet up, sup on a gin and tonic, swig a bottle of beer, chat a while with the barkeep, enjoy yourself…
Freya Writes... 
great pic n poem.
Thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed them both!
Wow.
Thank you 😊
A stunning poem. Well done, Freya!
Thank you so much!
Such wisdom and depth in your verse 🙂
Thank you!
This is deep and invites reflection ~ I also admire the form and shaping of the words ~
Thank you, Grace. I did have to play around with my word choice a little to make it look how I wanted! I’m glad it had the desired effect for you in that respect as well 🙂
You can feel the pain of poverty in this well-crafted etheree. And I really like how you built the pyramids, one on top of the other. If I’m not mistaken, I think you are the only one who did that! And thanks for the “lovely”–made my day! :0)
Thank you, Victoria! I did have to choose and re-choose my words to make the form look visually pleasing in that way – it was a most enjoyable aspect of this form, which I hadn’t expected at all. I’m also very pleased that the story ‘worked’. I had no idea how it was going to pan out until the end.
And you are very welcome 😀
Smiles.
I like when the way the eye sees the words is as interesting as the way the mind understands the sentiment. This seems difficult to master, yet you did quite well.
Thank you! It was a challenge with two faces 🙂
Deep thoughts expressed in an eye-pleasing etheree. Very nice!
Thank you, Mish, I’m glad you enjoyed it visually as well 🙂
I really like how you capture the emotion of being poverty stricken… I think even those of us that are not poor can recognize the shame, there is always someone richer, there is always that moment of thinking that your money is not good enough…
Indeed there is – thank you, Bjorn.
Indeed it does!
Anna :o]
This makes me sad really. Indeed, unfortunately, money DOES talk the loudest. Your poem has a strong, well-stated message.
Thank you, Mary, I really appreciate your comments.
Powerful poem. I could not help but read the ending as a warning, but also as a defeat. “Money talks loudest”, such a true statement in our century, and such a sad one.
I’m afraid it is true, in our societies. Measuring the worth of people in such a way is so inappropriate. We are all worth more than money.
SMiLes noW..
afTer FiNaLLy
arriVing aT aLL
i nEEd i FiNd
th@ money
never
exists
aT aLL..
fAst Cars..
and otHeR
stuff as shiny..
thE good stuFF
LiVes inSiDe noW
no longer transmuted
tooL..
am i..:)
Thank you, Katie. I love how you springboard off other people’s poems and respond with another one in your own unique style. I’d recognise your work anywhere – and love its creativity!
SMiLes my
friend..
Stream of
Consciousness
Poetry.. Public
Dance.. And
People are
Some of
My
favorite joys..:)
A powerful message, and the pic is perfect.
Thank you, Rosemary.