The first time I saw so much money
was on a dark and lonely lane,
when I was returning home with
my brother after evening tuitions.
We walked like this every evening.
One lamppost wasn’t enough to fight the darkness.
Perhaps, the Moon would, but not to be seen this time.
Yet, I saw money strewn all over: shiny coins and bright papers.
My first thought was to just walk off,
but penury forced me to pick every paper
and every bit of a coin that we could,
stuff them in our poor bags as fast as we can,
but without any fear since it was a lonely lane.
I say we because my little brother just followed
what I said, and we started our work, happy
and eager, as though we had located a treasure.
We returned home with our overjoyed faces,
and abnormal-looking bags.
I was true enough to tell the tale to my
loving mother, and waiting impatiently to
get a pat on my back,
because we were in penury,
because we needed that or some other — but
we needed the money.