SMALL CHANGE
(A Sevenelle)

She found a penny on the way
Into the store with mom today.
She picked it up and held it tight
In dimpled fist with smile bright.
A penny found yields such delight...
She held it all the while they shopped
But, somehow, when they left it dropped.

A little boy went with his dad.
His father angry.  He was sad.
Curses, yells, tears and lies,
Defeat was written in his eyes
Until the child a penny spies!
A furtive bend, the penny grasped
Into his hand it's tightly clasped.

An ember lit those eyes so dark-
A sense of hope, the smallest spark.
A penny from the ground so plucked
Can only mean a change of luck.
A start, a wish, a dream unstuck.
Into the store pulled by his dad
Went the small and timid lad.

As they wandered down each aisle,
There was an unfamiliar smile
On the face of that young boy
That gave the other shoppers joy.
(His dad it served to just annoy.)
They filled their cart with food to eat
Meanwhile the child held snug his treat.

The shopping done, they drove back home
Together but so much alone.
The boy ran quickly from the car
To drop the coin into a jar
And hide it in his closet far.
A penny lost.  A penny found.
Small change can come from soiled ground.

To pick it up and hold it snug
Is not the same as daddy's hug.
(Although it beats no hug at all
When you are just a child so small
With worries big and troubles tall.)
A penny's not a worthless prize
When looked upon through others' eyes.

So, as I walk these streets of town,
I'm tossing pennies all around
In hope some lad, some lass will bend,
Some grins begin, some worries end,
Some hugs to start, some troubles mend.
One here, one there, I throw today
A treasure just one cent away.