The Rules, by Michele Roberts

THE RULES

Hands must be washed
as soon as poets come in from the street.
Hands must be washed
before tasks such as cooking are commenced.
Slippers must be worn
inside the house at all times:
bare feet must never
make contact with the carpet.
Bare feet that make contact with the carpet
must be immediately washed.
Not more than three glasses of wine
may be taken in any one day.
Anger is not permitted on these premises.
All angry women entering these premises
must be immediately washed.
Desire is permitted to be exhibited on these premises
once a week for a period of twenty minutes.
Before and after
the female genitals must be immediately washed.

© Michèle Roberts

Michele Roberts' poetry is very positive, extremely female, and earthy.

I should read much more of it...Lacrimae Rerum is one of my favourites. I must look for it, sometime.

:-]