Watch me rattle, shake, hum for the money dried up like a puddle in the heat
all that loose change in my coin bank my skinny children have nothing to eat
that pinch between fat and forefinger. only white rice and black eyed peas
an extra helping of would-you-please for the babies, ramen and hard boiled eggs
mother, darling, pat down the cushion for the women and men
turn a hot helping of more, gimme some. we don’t have beaucoups of nothing
either a swallow or a dollop all the empty Earth can serve
just another hole in my pocket an open palmed slap across my cheeks
a slam dunk on my checking account savings? Jesus Christ let me get a witness
send a stimulus or an amen on my grave I don’t have a dollar
send a winning lottery ticket or a loaded man. I barely even own my name.