money leaves a shadow

money leaves a shadow

etched in its path 

from hand to hand.

you can sometimes see it

in the peeling paints

beside the rusting metal cladding

of abandoned mansions

now housing those

whose palms have peeled

in the shadow of money.

You can see the shadow

and its footprints

slowly crystallising out of 

hearts crushed in pursuit.

you may  measure your

footprints

against those left behind

by money’s shadow in quick drying cement

and slow sucking quicksand.

you may even be light of foot

and flit along with the quick dashing shadows

from the hands left in furtive places.

money leaves a shadow

that follows around

asking for a fitting without a shoe.

Without a shape to fit

Money meanders in and out of the shadows 

Evading some hands

Grasping others and bestowing others

But money is just a shadow

Without a breadth and without a smile

Money leaves a shadow

With footsteps

Etched in the morning beach

Waiting for the waves to crash 

And fill in the etches

With water and sand and detritus from further afield. 

Leaving no trace of who passed here.