GIRL WITH GIANT PURSE

I bet there’s Chiclets in there
and chapstick and tissue
and house key and Lifesavers
and a compact and a change
purse. I’m 46 and just realized
my grandmother never drove
a car. For this is her purse.
She has left it on the bus.
This girl is returning it
and hoping for some reward.
My grandmother will fish
through the plastic and hand her
a dime and call her dearie.

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She is the mother of the world
and the purse is the moon.

*

The purse holds her first
big sadness, heavier
than imagined.

*

She is a cloud’s dream
and the smell of concrete
after rain.

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The sound of the purse opening
a small bullet exploding
the cat out of the bag.