Big Bronze Penny

As a child in the seventies

The youngest of five

My dad would give out pocket money

Before our Sunday drive.

We'd all get our pennies

Big bronze and round

Thinking what kind of goodies

We could fit in our palms.

But wait thats not fair

I've got one silver coin

On it's surface, a hare,

It's the bronze penny I wish to purloin.

The tears down my cheeks

And my look of disdain

Alerted my brother

To a moment of gain.

Ah don't cry Rosie

I'll sort it out

You can have my penny

And I'll do without.

How kind he was

I felt really bad

I only had a tiny silver coin

To exchange for the penny he had.

My brother skipped off

Leaving me with the coin

He seemed really happy

Guess he knew he'd purloined.

So a lesson learnt on that Sunday drive

Don't rush to swap your silver coins with brothers who are canny

For they're always ready to trick you

And leave you without any.