Oh Democracy, She Left Without Her Handbag

My date lit up and smoked her fag.

She went to powder her nose,

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.

*

I watched her stumble, lipstick staining her rags,

Her heels high, souls blood red,

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.

*

I waited for her to inhale her drags,

She’ll come back drunk or not at all

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.

*

I signed on the line and my tongue wagged,

The bill was too high,

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.

*

The waiter’s check, his little white flag,

I slit my wrist for a bit of red ink.

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.

*

The clock struck three, I cursed the final lag,

I waited in silence, a deafening blow.

I hoped she’d call, just so I could brag,

Oh, democracy? She left without her handbag.