The Collection Plate

The Collection Plate

By Paul McCann

There were two  collections back then

by the confraternity men,

with their  wooden collection plates.

Standing there the collector waits

as  its passed around every row ,

people knew where it had to go .

The plates were lined with soft green  felt ,

to absorb the falling coins pelt

whenever it was passed around .

You’d  see a note or a half a crown ,

holy people paying their dues,  

from hand to hand among the  pews .

Depending on the time of year ,

the giving would be more sincere .

Some envelopes had cash within ,

money spilling over the rim .

There was a time to contemplate 

before they passed around the plate .

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