I remember 

It was years ago now 

Sitting in a privacy cubicle in the parents’ room in the middle of a shopping centre


Conditioned air
Piped muzak
Grubby curtains
Playschool on the tele on the other side of them

Seeking some rest before attempting
The epic effort of loading the car with baby and self 
Back to the place of endless labour 
and insufficient sleep

Feeling a little self pity
At my lot
As a single mother
not by choice 

And a voice 
From the next cubicle 
Where two local mums had been talking
Cuts through my ruminations

“Babydaddy’s a useless C##T anyway
All he ever does is
Smoke ice 
And
F**k putrid hoes.”

Yes, I remember that.