Wallet Full of Poems

By Richard Renelique

If you've ever struggled with a bill or the perpetual demand of a dollar then this assortment of poems will feel close to home. Past, present and future woes meet within these candid pages and they invite you to be unashamed if you've felt the same. But fear not, money isn't the centerpiece of every poem. Weep, laugh and escape with me if you wish. In exchange for your currency I offer you something, that to me, is beyond price. Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Renelique
• Release date: Mar 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386829904

Richard Renelique

Richard Joachim Renelique is a Haitian American who was raised in Woodmere, New York, by his parents and older brother. Since the second grade, he has been writing short works of fiction to express his creativity. His first poem was written in 2012 for a public speaking class. He needed to research a poem for presentation, but, due to his odd sense of laziness, decided to write his own and save time. On that fateful day, because of that one poem, Richard fell in love with poetry and he hasn’t stopped writing it since. Among his influences are Andrea Gibson, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Kaufman and Amiri Baraka just to name a few. He's proceeded to deepen his ties to the arts by releasing his own rap music and starting to voice act. He's driven by his seemingly endless imagination and the desire to encourage others to embrace the creators in themselves. He's a firm believer in proper mental health and spiritual practices. You can always ask him a friendly inquiry or request advice and he'll answer with a smile. If you're reading this, know that he thanks you for your interest.

Book preview

Author’s Note

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To you I offer this wallet full of poetry; you determine the value. These works chronicle experiences and thoughts that surround something we all know too well: the struggle. Economic grievances are often left out of ordinary conversation in favor of what is more uplifting or what we deem appropriate. That is precisely the reason why I had to address it and pull the ugly realizations out of their cerebral shadows and onto a screen. While we wish our lives were never mired by such problems, we can’t deny that they are also a chance for growth and the shifting of our perspectives. Not every piece is about this solemn topic as you will see. There will be smirks, laughter and tears along the way, as with any journey. Thank you for reading and enjoy.

Part I

Cards

Gerard dashes through the lot in a Bronze Toyota, his stride like a horseman

and the three brothers lunge out

storming the bank doors like a revolution was coming

and they came for the loot

their weapons greeted awestruck faces and the sweat could have ignited the room

but the leader’s scream froze hopes of rebelling

Fast forward to the escape

Gerard lies in wait, his knuckles inches from a pistol

inches from a framed picture of his family

he sees the money bags and lets in the bodies they came with

speeding off like hurricane force winds

then out of sight like organs

until officers hunt him

closing in

closer with each blink

until a panicked turn becomes a hug with brick walls

and Gerard never thought eight cops could resembled an army until this very moment

As his vision faded

he looks up at a sky dyed red

thinking the world dealt him a hand with razor edged cards

and he played

the best he could

Patties

AM or PM, rain storm or heat wave, awake or unconscious

they’ve got you flipping burgers when you’re ready to flip them off, flip the tables and eventually your odds

those depleted hands shuffle the profitable poison into packets for a quick-bite palette

ready for pick ups by people who pursue palpable flavor

How pleasurable is that?

I mean I can only imagine:

You come in one morning, 7 am, after driving along the arteries of your city

the fatigue is in your pulse and pace

your aspirations fell at the economy’s mercy

beheaded by a blade shaped like a dollar sign

so the seemingly easier path was your prerogative

and deep in your chromosomes, the goals lie in wait

your coworkers greet you, mirror neurons copy their smile

and you head to your station, a familiar friend and foe all at once

the obliques prep for twists that will come at a supersonic speed

you prepare yourself, now fueled by the perpetual one day mantra that follows you and your mind

no matter where it disappears to

so it’s time to get it

grind the gears of the machine for the cash you know you earned

and use it however you desire

you start to ponder as the day progresses

where to invest and save the money like it needs to be rescued

and soon your dreams tap your shoulder

I’m closer than you th-

ORDER 717 breaks the limbs of your thought

until it crawls back to where it came

and the patties call you

the patties need you

you’re prepared

to one day pursue a life without them

It will come at a price

but anything worth fantasizing of