Ode to My Purse
The three French handbags came
with lifetime warranties. Clasping
heavy straps, I cinch them saddle-tight
against the grasping world.
Dark wells, they incubate details,
stash my days in hidden rooms.
My black postman’s case clacks
clock-neat on thigh, ticking tasks.
Weekends I sling a red pouch that eats
torn tickets and topless lipsticks. Keys
to many locks eel through my caramel creel.
Open Purse, I say: swallow phone, glasses, cash.
Bring home to me, magician’s hat. I chant,
lovely Coach-crafted clutch, catch! You
soft maw, yawn to gorge and stow
my emblems. Stretch and hold the zoo
of me, the proof, spoil and tool.
I’m experimenting with creating spoken word poetry and video poetry, making short videos of my readings. I love hearing poetry aloud, and I have enjoyed giving readings at bookstores and libraries. With the help of Canva, I’ve figured out how to create a short video of my recorded reading + a visual of the text scrolling as I read. And I started a YouTube channel for this purpose, as well as for some of my book trailer videos. Hope to add more poetry videos soon.
More poetry videos to come. I’m learning the technical side of making these, using recordings from my CD A GOD YOU CAN DANCE (available on Apple Music and directly from me). Send me a message if you’d like to purchase a CD directly.