I will add this new fear to the
collection I keep in the old silver box
on my nightstand, where it will join
my terror of dogs, my panic over
random phone calls, and my wariness
of strange men who stop
to talk with me as I do yardwork
these fears rest nestled in red velvet
along with coins I find in the road
the noble profiles scratched as if
someone has been at them with a knife
this salvaged money provides balance
to my fears
these coins survived
terrible circumstances
maybe I can as well
this, I remind myself whenever I
open the box again
to add to either money or fear
or both
to a stash where both
stay safe