Gleaners

If he knows the grandkids are coming
he leaves piles of quarters and
nickels and dimes on his nightstand,
along with a few starlight mints.
He's been doing this for years now.
He knows they never ask,
just take, all they can get.
He gets a grin out of it,
them getting away with something of his.
It's his way of giving them a tie
to bind, later, after he's gone.
Remember when we used to steal Papa's change?
Yeah, I think he always knew.
Yeah, me too.
And maybe, just maybe,
they will love the small and poor
as they were loved.