About the Money

American Poetry Review, The, Sep/Oct 2005 by Rector, Liam

When they say it's not about the money, it's about the money.

-Anon.

By the turn of the century

Talking about the money

Replaced talking about the sex,

Talking about one's so-called

Religious life, and all that

Earlier yak about the psyche.

Talking about the money

Got down to it and captured

The hunger, the hope,

The love, and the fear:

Let me hear your money talk,

Many sang.

Money was a good time

(What people want most is

Good times and insurance?)

And money picked up

The garbage the following

Morning. (Someone's

Got to do it and someone gets

Money to do it.) There was

Really nothing like talking

About the money if you wanted

To really get to know someone,

To get to know what animated,

What moved the American.

Do me. Do it to me, honey.

Do my money. Let's get cynical:

Let me hear your money talk.