Barter – Why We Trade
Paper bills are just paper now
Backed by no one and nothing
No vaults of gold or silver bars
Worthless but for starting fires
Coins became part of the machine
Scrap metal with worn imagery
Edges used for scraping things
Carried just for the memory
Survival meant you traveled light
Traders and their scavengers
Roving bands for safety’s sake
Everything they carry has a price
A battery for a dirty blanket
Three bullets for a water jar
A knife, well that cost much more
Like a map or pack of cigarettes
Don’t grab or reach without a word
Lest you wish for misery
Use your eyes and your words
Trust costs extra, and you can’t afford it
Food is something all its own
Not usually carried, but it’s there
Hidden in small caches
Make a deal and spin the wheel
Friends are not really friends
Useful bodies that all keep secrets
Trinkets are traded, skills have value
Value keeps the belly full
Water finders, well diggers
Egg hatchers, bird breeders
Meat slicers with racks to dry
Iron benders and the metal makers
That’s what’s seen on the surface
Behind closed doors, there’s more
Flesh peddlers and corner people
What they trade, we cannot say
It’s a brave new world out there
Barter teaches what to see
Who cheated, who spoke too soon
Greedy eyes watching everything
Once it’s done there’s no more
No return, no exchange, no words
Disputes attract attention
And attention attracts violence
Whether with your back or on your back
Both sides need to see a gain
Fabric, food, tools or shelter
Some trade silence, others barter time
Truth is the most valuable currency
Is knowing when to walk away
Knowing nothing is free, nothing is fair
Everything costs more tomorrow
And even when it seems futile
Trash for other trash, leftovers for leftovers
We trade because we have no choice
Because not trading means starvation
Additional Reading
R.J. (Ralph) Schwartz is an American poet, author, website owner, and online publisher. His writing spans several poetry collections—ranging from spiritual and romantic to fear-driven explorations—and even extends into science fiction. Notable works include:
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Hope – Inspirational and Spiritual Poetry
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Things That Go Bump in the Night – Poetry of Fear and Fright
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The Lover’s Thread – Poetry for Couples
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Poetry of the Human Condition – The Ups and Downs of Modern Living
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The Secrets of the Moon (a sci-fi novel co-authored with his son Sebastian J. Schwartz)
Schwartz’s work is described as purposefully wordy, richly descriptive, and thematically grounded in nature, romance, antiquity, and forgotten histories. He writes regularly on platforms he manages, including The Creative Exiles, a collaborative venue for writers, and The Gypsy Thread, which delves into offbeat histories, pagan lore, and poetry.
- The Struggle of Understanding - April 13, 2026
- How To Deal With Frost on Your Pumpkin Patch - March 25, 2026
- The Awakening of Earth – A Poem of Springtime - March 18, 2026
