Portraits with Character by
Nic McPhee
Funny how words change
game once was a word for competition
now it is an adjective for relationship behavior
gay once meant happy back in the day
now it describes relationships
I think in the end the goal is to be happy
gay
aim
game
just like the old days
—-
walked into the bathroom
a dime and penny were on the floor
I picked them up
and into my pocket
11 cents closer to retirement
went to pay for my milk
2 dollars eleven cents was the cost
handed her the eleven
but the dime hit the counter
then bounced somewhere
out of sight
without making a sound
—-
she would tell me about her Dad’s hidden dime collection
just in case the world came to an end
then she left
and so did he
both out of sight
and as I think about that dime disappearing
I think of my own fate
die i’m
but I’ll leave fate to another time
as I put my pen to my knee
and think about a penny
I think of my own fate
just like the old days
and as I think about that dime disappearing
I put my pen to my knee
and think about a penny
out of sight
without making a sound
then she left
and so did he
both out of sight
I think in the end the goal is to be happy
but I’ll leave fate to another time
a dime and penny were on the floor
I picked them up
just in case the world came to an end
Funny how words change
