by Jonathan Kraft

It was the kind of night
When I could walk
and feel a snowflake
hit my eye
and melt away into a tear

And for a moment
I could consider the snowflake

For a moment…
money,
pressure,
expectation
could all melt away
and run down my face
leaving me free…
for a moment.

Then I saw the man
standing by the vent
from the underground parking garage.
He’ll probably sleep there tonight
on top of that vent
just to stay warm.

They say it’s not about the money
They say it’s not about the cha-ching
They say it’s about making the world dance
and forgetting about the price tag

Tonight,
for a moment,
I remembered the truth of that statement.
Then I felt
the fleece of my coat zipped to my chin,
the food in the bag in my hand,
the shoes on my feet,
the keys in my pocket,
(the keys for the home
where I will sleep tonight)

And I wondered how
it could be about
anything other than

the money.

Money can’t buy us happiness
But money can buy us time

Time with friends
time with family
time to adventure
time with hobbies
time with thoughts
thoughts that when acted upon
can and do change the world

On this planet, the money is the path
which should be paid
in reward
for value delivered.

But it’s not always paid.

Some people never realize.
You get to decide the value you bring
You get to decide the price tag you ask.

Others never gain the skills
to demonstrate their value
in a world
that desperately needs them
to live purposefully,
passionately,
genuinely.

And some,
in moments of stillness,
walk down the street.

They have moments with snowflakes
melting down their faces
wanting it to be
about more
than the money