Payment Poem by Rachel Harris

“I’m going to pay you.”

“No you are not.”

“I am going to pay you.”

She will not take money
So the debtor dips a quill
Inkpot receives it cordially
Paper whispers when placed
Hand poises for orders
But no words come
Quill quivers impatiently
Inkpot squats with determination
Paper holds the silence
Hand grows tired
But no words come
Quill weeps a single inky tear
Inkpot presses hard to the desk
Paper, parched, drinks the ink
Hand puts quill away dejectedly
But no words come
A dancer without a dance
A singer without a voice
A storyteller without a tale
A writer without words
A poet without a poem
No words come
The debtor cannot pay
Head in hands, sighs
Thoughts slip through fingers
Head raises, then
The debtor dips a quill
Inkpot receives it cordially
Paper whispers when placed
Hand poises for orders
'Love'
The debtor takes the paper
Places into her hands

“My payment.”