If all I had was money

If all I had was money

I will buy a heart

The soft and fleshy type

Dripping with the red juice of compassion

I will buy the heart that breaks at the aches of the multitude

And graft into my chest

A new one on each anniversary of the sun rising on each massacre. 

If all I had was money

I will buy a taste for memories 

Memories left on the tombstone to tell each

spirit, 'here lies a good man'

I will buy the memories that sprinkle rose petals and frangipanni to 

chase way the gnomes mauling weary hearts

A new one for each sad story on cable news

If all I had was money

I will buy the poet and his song

The rush of words from his mouth

Tumbling out like a quarrelsome brook in a lonely bush

I will buy the discernment of his brooding

A new one for each robe that clothes no one

If all I had was money

I will buy peace in bowls and droplets

I will stand by the road side and dole out a measure

May be a measure and half, 

To each straggler and each braggart

I will buy the path for them to pass

with their bowls in hand, a drop for each one lost on the way

If all I had was money

I will buy more of it or all of it

And lock it away in an iron box beneath the sea

I will buy the greed and hunger and fright

of those who have and want more and those who haven’t and want more

and give them back their life

one breadth, at a time.