she was ready for anything

my mother

carried everything in her purse.

from Kleenex

to combs

and brushes, make up.

bandages,

Chapstick

and lipstick.

nail clippers,

handkerchiefs,

pencils and pens.

sunglasses and tools.

recipes.

a notepad

full of phone numbers.

mints and gum,

peanut butter crackers.

keys

and jewelry.

an array of

pictures too

along

with a checkbook,

credit cards

and ID's.

she was prepared for

the apocalypse

long before

it became cool.