The Real LJ Idol // Mini Season // Week 4: - The death of the 1¢ coin / penny and the $1 bill.

[ellison]

The following is an entry for the writing competition, therealljidol. Prompt: - The death of the 1¢ coin / penny and the $1 bill. .

Pennies From HeavenA flash of burnished copper

Comments

[leni_ba]

This is lovely, and I love that bit about loving someone even though it's a kind of disloyalty to another loved one. Tks for sharing!

[ellison]

Thanks so much and thanks for reading!!

[halfshellvenus]

What a tough position to be in, having known only the good years of your grandmother but having all of your mother's most important years be during the bad ones. Divided loyalty is hard to deal with, but you described it well here and in one succinct stanza.

[ellison]

Yeah family dynamics can definitely be hard to navigate at times! I definitely had a greater loyalty toward my mother as I felt a bit protective of her in a way. But I did want to see my grandmother for her efforts when sober. She was never a warm individual, but she tried to show affection in her own way, and I'm glad we had a pretty nice relationship.

Thank you for such a nice comment!

[adoptedwriter]

I enjoyed this poem/story very much. Cool coin too. I had no idea these existed.

AW

[ellison]

Thanks! Yeah, they're pretty neat, huh?

[rayaso]

I loved the phrase "Lincoln and Kennedy committed to / An ongoing staring competition." This was so well done! I'm glad you got to know your grandmother when she was sober, but it is so sad that your mother grew up with an alcoholic mother.

[ellison]

Thank you!!

Yes, it is sad - both her parents were alcoholics and extremely neglectful. The one good thing that came from it, if anything, was that my mom was so very dedicated to doing better for us kids, the next generation. And she did.

[murielle]

A lovely tribute to your grandmother's legacy, all of it, rough and not quite so rough.

Good take on the prompt!

[ellison]

Thanks murielle, much appreciated! :)