She opened up her handbag
and tipped the contents on the floor
All her must-haves and life essentials,
the keys to the front door,
Tissues to capture sneezes,
Tablets to ease her pains,
Pens for making notes with
An umbrella, incase it rains
Scrumpled receipts from shopping trips
A month or six ago
A safety pin and darning kit
For things she needs to sew
A slightly matted hairbrush
For when she needs to preen
A bottle of sanitiser
To make dirty hands clean
A notebook for observations,
A mobile phone and charger
A trolley coin, a shopping bag
For stocking up the larder
A purse full of rewards cards
But very little cash
Some lipstick, liner and mascara
For a fuller looking lash
Menstrual pads, some tiger balm,
Can we fit anything else in
to this girls’ bag of necessities?
When a wallet and keys is enough for him.
Poetry for Dullards 