fifteen nickels

I DROVE FOR COFFEE BEFORE WORK

AND I PLACED MY CUP BESIDE THE REGISTER.

I SWITCHED THE LIGHTS ON AND BEGAN TO TAKE

THE DARK CURTAINS DOWN. I  WAS ANXIOUS 

TO SEE HOW UGLY MY MISTAKES WERE LAST NIGHT.

EVERYONE KNOWS I CAN'T COUNT.

NICKELS AND PENNIES WERN'T LOUD ENOUGH

TO MAKE ANY CUSTOMERS GIVE ME SPACE.

THEY QUACKED, "PERDON, JOVEN" AND I LOST COUNT.

I GRABBED MY COUNTED STASH OF DIMES,

GAVE THEM A BRIEF LOOK THROUGH THE CORNERS

OF MY CAT-NIBBLED GLASSES.

FAKE FACES WALK THE HALLS OF THE MALL

ON SATURDAY MORNINGS

FROM THE LOUD HAIR IRON LADY WITH THE ADAM'S APPLE

WHO SAYS "HELLO HAHN-EEEEEE" TO EVERY

WHISPER WAVES MY EARS PICK UP FROM THE OTHERS.

THEY THINK I'M STUPID.

pardon my tenses.