What Every Woman Should Carry

My mother gave me the prayer to Saint Theresa.

I added a used tube ticket, Kleenex,

several Polo mints (furry), a tampon, pesetas,

a florin. Not wishing to be presumptuous,

not trusting you either, a pack of 3.

I have a pen. There is space for my guardian

angel, she has to fold her wings. Passport.

A key. Anguish, at what I said/didn’t say

when once you needed/didn’t need me. Anadin.

A credit card. His face the last time,

my impatience, my useless youth.

That empty sack, my heart. A box of matches.

-- Maura Dooley, from Sound Barrier