She-Herself Could Be? Poem by Mark Heathcote

She could be, but for her now, ageing carcass
she-herself could be the Hindu goddess
of fortune with her soft date-palm tree broom
she could be 'Lakshmi' in that bright costume.

Also known as 'Sri' the goddess of wealth
'diffusing light or radiance' and in stealth
such a broom could get rid of all evil forces.
Her face says she's no time for hobbyhorses.

But this broom isn't-special it's for outdoors-
and the old lady, she somehow reinforces
we've all our very own light and radiance.
We can sweep ourselves into irradiance.

To coin an old biblical statement-
'idle hands are the devil's workshop.'