Money, Money #writephoto

Posted on May 22, 2021 by TanGental

This week’s #writephoto prompt is a money tree…

The Pound

 

When I first saw it, could it be free?

It sat there, quite still, for all to see.

Yet no one moved, no knees were bent

No hand reclaimed it, ready to be spent.

Could it have been forgotten about?

Had no one noticed? Would no one shout?

I turned around and checked the crowd

Waiting for someone to cry out loud

But the hubbub continued, quite unaware.

My gaze kept high, unwilling to stare.

I slipped my foot towards the spot,

Ears bright crimson, burning hot;

With a final lunge, I had it covered

And still it seemed no one bothered.

I squatted down, in a stockinged wood

Still pausing, I tried to read their mood

But I wasn’t given half a glance

No one looked at me askance.

One small boy on the dusty floor,

The milling crowd, happy to ignore.

My fingers touched the golden treasure

That simple act gave so much pleasure.

But as I stood I became aware

My hand was empty, my palm was bare.

I’d left the prize, I must have rushed.

I tried again; I pulled, I pushed.

It didn’t budge, stuck quite fast.

It took me moments before I grasped

I was the victim of a horrid trick

My hopes crumbled, I felt sick.

From left and right the sniggers rose

Everyone was in the know.

A little snotty boy of three

Stepped up and stood in front of me.

He picked his nose, scratched his ear

And bent towards me, so I could hear.

‘You’re the first to fall for that.’

He paused then added: ‘What a twat.’

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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9 Responses to Money, Money #writephoto

  1. derrickjknight says:
    May 22, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Hilarious. When my brother Chris and I were in primary school I raced him for a 10 bob note we both spotted at a bus stop. I took it to the police station and reclaimed it after a month. That was worth doing in those days (still the ’40s)

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Peter's pondering says:
    May 22, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    Yes, sounds just like a modern three year old!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. willowdot21 says:
    May 25, 2021 at 7:54 am

    People don’t do that anymore do they 💜

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Pingback: #Writephoto Round-Up – MONEY TREE – New2Writing

  5. KL Caley says:
    May 27, 2021 at 9:47 am

    Hahaha… sneaky. Great post. When I was at college, the media department photocopied a load of notes and then scrunched them up so that only parts were visible, then placed them around the site to see how many people would notice them and what their reaction would be. It was supposedly all in aid of research, I’m not so sure…
    Thank you for joining in the challenge:

    #WRITEPHOTO – MONEY TREE


    KL ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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