a heavy brass latch

on a thick leather bag
filled with TUMS
Excedrin
red lipstick from Macy’s
and Valium

is all you need
to determine a woman’s age.

you know she is old
enough to value
a dependable thing,
for heartbreak,
headaches,
bright red lips,
and more stress than
is generally called for

I can tell you
my age by saying
I carry the same things,
in a cloth bag (for washing),
except I use lip gloss
and keep a number
in my lipstick case

for emergencies.

5 months ago

JAMIE SUE AUSTIN