to die down. In silence, hobbled tongues reach
towards each other, bodies talk when mouths can’t
find words: a secret handshake, semaphore, Morse
code-switching, languages cobbled together:
pidgin, creole, Spanglish, “bad” English, ebony phonics,
survival tactics made beautiful, polished to copper shine.
Pennies are most valuable to those who haven’t got a dime.