Lost Weight

A worker, net in hand,

bent over the fountain's green edge,

where wishes land,

a heavy, slow dredge.

The water, still and thick,

a murky, silent pool,

yielded small, sick

circles, almost too cool

to touch, the copper

turned green,

a wish-stopper.

Dimes and pennies,

some bent, some flat,

from hopeful Jennies,

or a hurried dad.

Caught in the weave,

the mesh that held them tight,

what did they leave?

Just the dark water's blight.

He shook the net out,

a small, metallic rain,

no reason to shout,

just the dull, green stain.

Another bucket filled,

another day gone by,

another hope killed,

beneath a gray sky.