Joke in a Bank
Joke in a Bank
by matthew rohrer
When you try to make a joke
in a bank
it falls flat
there’s an armed guard
standing there
wearing sunglasses indoors
motionless
but no one laughs
in fact my intentions
are misunderstood
no, no, I am just
going to walk out
the door and come back in
to turn my coins
into paper money
fifty-three dollars
in the sunshine
I’m on my way
with my jacket
in my backpack
and the steel
grates over the pubs
early afternoon
my step as high
as the starlings
bickering in the sky
the birdsong
of the city
and the paper lifting off
the sidewalks
goodbye, I wish
the world were different
Teller: “How would you like that $53.00 sir?”
Comedian: “In nichaels and dimes, ma’am. Can i have this pen?”
Reminds me of someone splitting town going out into the world for a new beginning and fresh start and just wishing they had more than $53.00 in their pocket to do it…especially since they are on foot and living out of a backpack. That’s probably what the flat joke was:
Teller: “How can i help you, sir?”
Man: “That depends, how much money do you got?”