Gold Dust

he tries to catch the particles
in the back of
the money wagon

filling his gold pan
with gold dust
forming it into neat rows
folding and scanning

he lassos words
debt, debit,
financial concern

he bows to the
sovereign on one side
then turns
and bows to the
kiwi on the other

the value of gold
is never the same
but always valuable

he argues over
the price of investment
is it worth it’s weight in gold?

my father
the accountant.

Lucy Jessep, 11