Shove Ha’penny by Pat Edwards

When you play this game with people
lubricate the board with French chalk
those worthless coins
will reach tipping point
fall in human cascade

Why we couldn’t see this coming
pennies lining up haphazard
pausing only to glimpse
futures worth the risk
as they hopeless tumble

What did we expect but chaos
wrapped in tear gas grimace
no order to this penny pile-up
lives saved from one battle
shifting game show to another

When you play this game with people
lubricate the board with French chalk
those worthless coins
will reach tipping point
fall until you stop shoving