quarter

notes:
in it's lifetime a single quarter, valued at 1/4 of an american dollar, might change hands thousands of times if it is not lost or destroyed.

once lost, it will not degrade, but remain, silent and alone until it is either found or destroyed.

that quarter in your pocket might have been held by your neighbor, a gas station attendant, your second to last college professor, a famous actor, your elementary school principal, and an ordinary store clerk. for all you know it might have traveled across the country, on the road or in the skies. occupying physical space, countless pockets. the best part is that with all the untold thousands, you will never know. not by the nicks on the face nor the rub on its edge.

oh, and if you never lose it, but hang on to it, and put it somewhere safe it's entirely permanent. much more permanent then we are.