I think I’ve put my femininity out
Out of joint and out of spite
It’s got me nervous and uptight

I think I’ve put my femininity out
On the line and out to dry
Friends and lovers wonder why

I think I’ve put my femininity out
I think it happened long ago
When I was thirteen or so

I think I’ve put my femininity out
It could be out there with the cat
Crying lonely on the mat

I think I’ve put my femininity out
It’s not as simple as my back
I can’t just do a spinal crack

I think I’ve put my femininity out
Out for all the world to see
It’s disconnected now from me

I think I’ve put my femininity out.

© Catherine Stuart 2001

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
The cause of such bitterness, bile and spleen
The vicious cruel world of the poetry scene
What if they could just stick you in a machine
And remove it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
All those poor people who stay up all night
In pain over whether the word is quite right
Getting all kind of angsty and rather uptight
Would they lose it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
A simple excision and quickly resplicing
Some recombination post chopping and dicing
And send you off happy to eat cake with icing
Would you lose it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
A perfectly painless and quick operation
So they could get on with a proper vocation
With super and sick leave and two weeks vacation
Would they choose it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
All those people suffering anguish and spleen
Alone in their rage against the machine
It’s hard for me now to find new rhymes for ‘gene’
Should I lose it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
Its manifestations absurd and obscene
Like so many others around on the scene
On the troublesome chromosome this one’s the queen
Should we lose it?

What if they discovered the poetry gene?
They’re looking for one now for manic depression
And also for homo-erotic obsession
There must be a gene for this painful profession!
Would you lose it?

© Catherine Stuart 2001