Pennies in the Gutter

Pennies in the Gutter

Counting wrinkled ones and fives under a buzzing light
Pushing dimes across the plastic
trying to make the math sit right
Nothing in the cupboard, water boiling on the stove
Stacking up the red-ink letters, waiting for the blow.

Pennies in the gutter, heads up or heads down
Making survival look like living on the jagged side of town
I’m scraping for a future with a handful of rust
Watching every plan I had grind down into dust.
Scrubbing work shirts in the sink
praying the landlord waits, Heat clicks off at midnight
cold rattling the gates, Sweating at the checkout

putting back the can
The cashier looks right through me
she doesn’t give a damn.
Pennies in the gutter, heads up or heads down
Making survival look like living on the jagged side of town
I’m scraping for a future with a handful of rust
Watching every plan I had grind down into dust.

Walking home in freezing rain, hands in empty pockets
Staring at the warm lights burning in the neighbors’ sockets
Marking Xs on the wall, another day to lose
Feeling every rock through the bottom of my shoes.
Pennies in the gutter, heads up or heads down
Making survival look like living on the jagged side of town
I’m scraping for a future with a handful of rust

Watching every plan I had grind down into dust.