They're Rounding Up the Pennies

Since today's Google Doodle commemorates the passing of the Canadian penny, I thought it would be appropriate to do the same with my post. And since I feel I best express my deep feelings in verse, I offer today something for a darkened coffee house and bongos.

They're Rounding Up the Pennies

I heard they'll be rounding up the pennies soon.
Turning three cents to five; turning four cents to five.
But my two cents, the two cents I offer you, soon worth nothing at all.

Cents be gone!
Is sense gone, our descent soon to follow?
Our thoughts, no longer a penny's worth?
Nonsense!

In Old World lands when new money sent old money to the oblivion of the streets,
The streets were soon littered with the carnage of worthless change.
Sad coins, once cherished, lay scattered where they fell.
And passers-by made no move to ease the humiliation of the once proud,
Stepping over the dispossessed they once struggled to possess.
Ting. The sad chime of change.

Cents be gone!
Five we'll keep, but not five of you.
Five senses awash with grief; but five no more, replaced soon by one: a sense of loss.
No census to test for consensus on no cents.
Nonsense!

The child I once was who clutched pennies in his hand like spun gold,
New to commerce, swollen with the power to acquire,
Penny candy, scratching stickers that made scents for cents,
Would looking in upon today have cried a little.
One tear, two tears, not worth anything. But three or four tears rounded up and made five.

Cents be gone!
The world still spins about the sun; Nicolaus Copernicus gave us that.
But as our Copernici become Nicoli rounded up,
Can heliocentrism be far behind, forcibly replaced by helionickelism?
With dear Nick spinning circles in his grave, about a bigger, shinier sun.
Nonsense!

Dear, dear penny,
A sad day dawns when you will no longer be with us,
But for those of you who will soon lie in jars or under plastic.
We, who loved you, won't soon forget your worth.
So long as you carry the sweet scent of mint;
A sweet sentiment from the heart of the boy you once knew.