Coin-Age Poem by Max McGovern

It’d been a while since I last
Sat down to write
Something.
Sis is in town
With baby Neil.
She’s had enough
I can tell, and I haven’t
Been around much to just
Talk.
Last time she came
I was gone too,
Just like Neil Sr. is now.
Conference in Williamsburg.
He left today
After she and he and
My dad
Went to the beer fest
Down at the boardwalk
While I was having brunch.
I just couldn’t get up.

I drove all over town,
Literally spent all day,
Giving and receiving
Little pieces of metal and paper
For the feeling
Of shredding sidewalk.
It was cold skating back
From good old Jimmy’s house.
Last time it was 1 am
When I came home from Jimmy’s,
On a school night
No less.

I couldn’t believe that I now
Had what they call a
“fauxhawk.”
I looked for the clippers,
But I guess I misplaced them.
The little stacks of change
Scattered around my room
Had grown in size
And number.
I found the Archangel Michael
- Patron of Paratroopers –
Pendant that my mom
Gave me on the day of SATs.
She sent me off
With encouraging words
And bad directions.
The invitations for applications
had been piling high as well.
One of these days
I know I’ll have to deal with it all.
But I Relax
And count my change.