Lessons in Money at an Early Age:

Allison Peisert

Out of nowhere, a voice-

The lovely ghost

Had been watching me

Scolding me, gently

Saying, never

to put money in my mouth.

I took the penny out, slowly

and stared at her, mesmerized-

Her hair was graying flames, like rising

dust bunnies from behind the door

crawling sleepily around the edges of her wrinkled face.

Her wisdom came through

In her words

to keep it outside of me.

Good advice for a girl

of any age,

so I keep remembering,

Just to stay in that place

where I can see her

Sitting in the chair,

My shoulders reaching her knees

Taking the penny

out of my mouth.