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VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region.

Young Writers Project: 'Meeting'

Shelburne poet Charlotte Hughes toys with the idea of a tug-of-war between the best and worst parts of ourselves at the discovery of unclaimed money on the street.
YWP Media Library, photo by Cecilia Sweeney
Shelburne poet Charlotte Hughes toys with the idea of a tug-of-war between the best and worst parts of ourselves at the discovery of unclaimed money on the street.

One moment,
one opportunity.
A simple eye connection
and secret looks at the ground.
A bag spilling with coins, bills –
faces glaring up at us,
screaming, “Take me!”
But this money would come
with a price;
we both know that.
Take the money,
pay the price,
and we're filthy rich.
In money anyway.
Our hands touch the bag,
a thick canvas sack
rough under our fingertips.
Take the money.
In that moment, our eyes meet.
A train whistles.
We stand up and walk away,
our heel-clicks fading into the distance,
leaving behind
an undesirable canvas sack.
 

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