Back When Jessie Had a Thing About Handbags

Back When Jessie Had a Thing About Handbags

Jessie

used to use between

eight

and ten bags almost

every day

for two whole years ..

Which

averaged out around

seven hundred

English sobs per week

back then ..

And that, was just

to keep

the bone-ache at bay ..

Jessie very

rarely gouched out ..

In fact, I don’t

think I saw her once,

in those

last eighteen months,

or thereabout ..

Jessie used to make

a killing

lifting handbags

from off

the floor and between

the feet

of so many women

pissing,

or doing what they

had to do

in the cubicle, next to

where

she would sit waiting

to grab 

another one, then

scarper

and loose herself

in the bustling streets

outside

Charring Cross railway

station

and ladies lavatories ..

Now and then,

Jessie got clean when

required

to spend time in one

of her majesty’s

finest of prison cells ..

Oh’ and just

for the record, she was

classically

trained and one hell

of a looker ..

But she never fucked

to make cash ..

She said she loved me

way too much

to do anything like that ..

And anyway,

she had a decent job

grabbing

ladies handbags to fall

back on ..

Then one Friday night

in nineteen

eighty something ..

Jessie and

me had an argument ..

Right after

her giro was cashed

and a cheque bounced ..

And although

I forget, what it was all

about now,

I do remember Jessie

being found tho ..

With a pin in her arm

on a swing,

in some bloody kids

playground ..

Close by the canal

we would

occasionally walk along ..

Jessie never

did say goodbye to me

and I’m not

even sure, if I told her

I loved her

before she went over

and I got clean

without too much of a

rattle ..

But I hope I did

and still think of her often ..

 

 

 

Reviews

[Marie]

Wow! The very poignant story of Jessie is very finely penned and expressed. Sadly, Jessie didn't turn her life around! You paint a picture from life's other side for your reader, one which imparts that we need to make careful choices so life is good both to us and for us. A heartbreaking ending, but love lives on! Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading this poem, it brought a teardrop down my cheek!

[Neville]

I really can't thank you enough Marie .. many serious thank you's are on their way to you write now .. Neville

[Marie]

Most welcome, Neville and thank you for sharing your amazing poem...

[Neville]

Bless you Marie .. N

[Marie]

Bless you too, Neville...

[Neville]

...............................😎👍

[Papaya]

Life is the toughest thing to turn around. I like the way you told the story in a non-chalant tone.
The story is sad but the tone in which it's delivered speaks to how ordinary these tragedies can be/have become.

[Neville]

I am most grateful to you for the visit and for your understanding of how it is for so many .. Neville

[Papaya]

You're welcome ☀️

[Neville]

.......... ⭐

[Chris Shaw]

I am so pleased you loved Jessie. I have my own Jessie not quite as far gone. All I can wish is that she finds a friend as loving as you. Walking on a knife edge, still with us. You have been there and come out the other side. This is so close to my heart. Saddens me so but so beautifully penned Neville.

Chris

[Neville]

TY OC ................ 😎👍

[JD Major]

Phew!!! Riveting tall Read, hooked me every line, wishing it'd never end! 🙂

[Neville]

Jessie had a heart as big as any planet .. and I did love her so albeit briefly .. thank you on her behalf .. Neville