When Money Is God

I
Among the folds in my wallet:
36 cents, expired
license, plastic card receipts.

II
I was indebted
i.e American
Broke but in dinero I trust.

III
The money spent in situ.
was all part of the illusion.

IV
A man and a woman
Are one.
A man and a woman and money
Are owned.

V
I don't know which to prefer,
The beauty of poverty
Or the beauty of the low interest loan.
The money spending
Or just after.

VI
The purse is filled with nonsense
With lip print tissue.
The whisper of the money
Tickled her ear.
Self worth
Tangled in the bottom,
A linty lozenge.

VII
Oh educated, post grad sin,
Why do you imagine paying off loans?
Do you not see how the debt
Settles in your gut
And becomes you?

VIII
I know Mint.com tracks you
And the lure of debt versus net worth;
But I know, too,
The bottom line is, you are more
Than what you owe.

IX
When the money leaves your hand,
It smells like blood
Of copper pennies pinched.

X
At the sight of dollar signs,
Green light buying,
Even the filthy rich
Would suggest saving.

XI
She drove over pot-holed streets
In wing-prayer mode.
Once, a fear held her,
In that she mistook
The bald tires for penance
For dues paid before the payoff.

XII
The world is turning.
The money must be spending.

XIII
It was lottery eve.
She was almost winning
And she always was on the verge of winning.
The money waited
In silver cages and numbered balls.