Coin Incidences

There’s a certain kind of twinkle
in my father’s eyes when he has money;
When he knows that everything
that is a need is covered.
Then the twinkle becomes an unending space–
he looks at you
But you do not feel his eyes.
You dance right in front of him,
but he does not see your colours.
All my life,
I was only sent home once
from school for fees.
That night I told my father,
my mother said he didn’t sleep,
neither did he feel her beside him.

My father’s kind of pride
is a peacock displaying to a mate,
it is full of colour.
He does not fret or swither,
but to know that he must bow,
makes the peacock but meat
in a peasant’s soup pot.
To plan how to spend his money
should have been utmost,
for the protection of his pride,
and for his children.

Younglan Talyoung