Centimental
David Simmonds

CENTIMENTAL

Occasionally, which, unfortunately,  means right here and now, this column lapses into verse

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When Jimmie and Steven killed off the one cent 

I thought that a nuisance was stopped 

But after a while, I wiped off my smile 

As the penny eventually dropped 

They’d given no thought to the mess they’d create

Those so called wise men at the helm

Cos they’ve scrapped much more from the language

Than they have from the coin of the realm

Lets suppose I am socking my money away 

Must the old school advice now be spurned?

What do I do if it’s no longer true

That a penny saved is a penny earned? 

Did they mean that we spend with abandon? 

Is the limit now up in the skies?

How can we pound foolish at all

If we can't be penny wise? 

But if I were to offer up my point of view 

It would be with a tone of chagrin 

How will I know when I’ve said just enough 

When I can't get my two cents worth in?

And if you would not share your insights with me 

What price would now have it bought? 

I’ll no longer be able to offer to pay 

A penny for your thoughts 

If I were the Pope or some fancy archbishiop

My conscience would tinkle some bell

Cos if there’s no more pennies from heaven 

Perhaps there's no heaven as well

I wont fill my loafers with loonies or toonies

Until you back off and relent

And don't ask me to give you nickels or dimes 

When you wont let me give one red cent 

So Jimmie and Steven, please reconsider

Give the language a well earned relief

It’s not weak nor improper to turn back to copper

- Why not take the hint, and go tell the mint

- I know Dief would do it, so don’t you eschew it

- We’re not talking big bucks, it's for all us Canucks

And bring back that tan maple leaf.