from a state of siege,
from neighbours eyes,
from counting pennies,
from doing without

from checking windows,
from skimp, save
and charity,worn furniture

Clothes prying eyes
 from called ‘permissive’, abnormal,
 idle, sponger, mother to undisciplined kids, a threat to The Family.

to a new boyfriend
 who stays over
 without Social
 saying we’re married

after three consecutive nights,
 withdraw my book
 and tell him he’s to support us

From never depending on a man,
 his money his car, his reliabliity, his word

to a state of independence

Copyright Paul Brookes from ‘The Place Of Breath’ (1993)

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