I Imagine A Gypsy Curse Poem by Riitta Gyllenbogel

I imagine a gypsy curse
being placed upon my head
as I refuse to give
an empty bottle
to a beggar begging for it
nay, demanding it more like!

twenty cents worth.

I felt strangely attached
to that piece of plastic
just then
'I want to keep it'
- I cried out
without really knowing why

a moment later
another man
collecting for bottles as well
looks me in my eyes
and we smile

I bless my bottle
with a little spell of my own:
'health, wealth, and happiness
to you and to your children'
and so I give that bottle,
(still twenty cents worth)
to this other man

he places it in his bags
fit to bursting with
my bottle's like
and into the night
we fade