“A Simple Copper Thing” by Mandy Austin Cook
they’re just pennies
I agree they’re lovely!
shiny little copper pretties thrown into fountains
an abundance of them can be a blessing
but it’s not the genie answer to necessity of spirit
for whether there are two to put in a gumball machine
or one you pick up along the path carrying a story
or a multiplicity sitting lonely somewhere guarded by a leprechaun
they’re just pennies.
you can wish upon them but they won’t make you happy
you can hold on to them but they won’t create generosity of soul
you can give them away but it doesn’t magically change the giver
they’re just lovely little pieces of fleeting pleasure
meant to be spent wisely
with the understanding that your personal definition of self
is worth mountains more than a simple copper thing.