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Penny Drop

Behind the scraggly lilacs
and the swing set
at the chain link fence
she and I met a few times
tentative ten-year olds.
her face long and serious
open brown eyes,
stringy hair, but neat

I have accepted Jesus
as my personal Savior
she said. Have you?
Something small and dark
began to grow in me,
a little wound.
Yes, I lied.

Later, I dug a hole
past worms
past where water seeps
deeper than a child
should know how to do

then stood
and dropped ancient
pennies down
so they’d be found
by a later, luckier
girl.