Change is good, they say
as if change isn’t a neutral thing
as if it’s not an empty purse
unclasped and waiting

to receive – or not –
the jingling handful
of extra, remainder
of a transaction completed

hope and change
and peace through strength
and strength through unity
and unity through faith
as if change is plainly good

and no change plainly good,
as well, depending on
the seller and the goods
as if we’re now excused

from asking what was
and what’s to be:
and who precisely
will make this change
trickle it into our hands

the change we chase
glimmers golden, jangles
like walking-around money
as when the boy I saw yesterday

paused and stooped to retrieve
a heads-up penny
on the path to school