Minister for Women

dedicated to the hon. Tony Abbott, Minister for Women

minister for menstrual blood on the hem of her school dress

minister for being the last of your friends to get your period

or the first

minister for sluts, dogs, whores, cunts,

lesbos, fat chicks,

minister for the ones who failed the frigid test

and the ones who passed

minister for the childcare worker who sings the babies to sleep

and on the way home spends two hours wages

on a take home test

minister for the second line, the call from a phone box,

‘if you keep it, we’re through’

minister for knowing it’s over anyway

whatever you do

minister for the women who lie together, bellies touching

minister for stretch marks and cracked nipples and anal fissures,

for the surprising dark clot, the size and colour of a kidney,

that slips from her a few hours after childbirth

and shivers gelatinous on the bathroom floor

just one of those things no one tells you about

minister for the lump that’s found

sometime after midnight

during lovemaking

minister for menopause

minister for the ones who didn't have children

and never felt the need

to explain the reasons why 

but had to anyway to relatives at Christmas 

and the young fathers in the workplace

who will look after you when you are old?

you'll never truly understand love.

minister for putting your knickers into soak

for washing your bra in a laundry bag

for the stains that never come out

for hanging those sheets out to dry anyway

because fuck you

minister for fluid that flows inwards and outwards

minister for solid waste

for matter and destiny

minister for wounds