"the coal miners and the atheists

the immigrants and the sword swallowers

the city boys and the fire eaters

the prostitutes and the butchers

the immigrants and the abortionists

the local bar

the rotting tree

the stray dog, derelict car park, empty pram

all uttered gods name

when you walked by."

"What horrifies me most is the idea of being useless: well-educated, brilliantly promising, and fading out into an indifferent middle age."

"They teach us that you can’t be alone.
That going to the movies by yourself is socially unacceptable
and will expose you to ridicule.
We’re taught to dread Mondays and to long for the
three in the afternoon bell at school which will set us free.
Your financial situation determines what you can and can’t do.
You need to be married by thirty, you need a long term plan,
a degree to achieve direction and stability.
You won’t be beautiful unless you buy this mascara,
you’re not beautiful because you don’t own this tight red dress,
because you don’t get your nails done every week,
because you like to spend Saturday nights reading novels
and eating ice cream straight out of the bucket.
They tell us that fat is worse than death,
that you need to lose those last five kilos,
that the only way you will be desirable is with a thigh gap
and jutting hip bones.
That if you wear a short skirt you’re asking for it,
that you owe him something because he bought you a drink.
We’re taught that you should pace yourself;
that balance and moderation is key.
To hell with all of this. I want to live unrestrained and forceful.
I will go the movies alone and eat an extra large popcorn.
I will look forward to the beginning of the new week.
I will not be held back by money,
by the useless things I’m taught to buy.
I will look in the mirror each day and believe
that I am still beautiful, that you are,
that we all are."