Count the cash. Make stacks of cash.
Tall, teetering towers of cash.
Watch them crash. Build them again.
Whole green cities of cash.
This was what you dreamed of, yes?
Wish you had a sandwich. Maybe
a glass of wine. Heck, how about
a glass of water? Tap water’s fine.
Notice your stomach grumbling.
Think about eating a dollar.
Decide you’re not that hungry yet.
Make the bills into fans.
Fan yourself like the queen of cash.
Wish someone else were here
to join this dream. Is this a dream?
Please let this be a dream.
Wish you could use all this cash
to buy something. Like a sandwich.
Like a ticket to Hamilton. Like a key
to get you out of this vault.
Like a glass of tap water.
Like a window to see the sky.
Why did you ever think you’d trade
what you had for all this cash?
What you wouldn’t give now
just to lie in summer grass.
And eat a peanut butter sandwich.
And stare at the sky as it changes colors.
That genie was right.
Be careful what you wish for.
*
This poem was inspired by Things to Do in the Belly of the Whale by Dan Albergotti. It’s a lot of fun … just imagine yourself trapped in an unlikely place and give yourself a list of things to do …