I Shall Paint my Nails Red

Because a bit of colour is a public service. This poem is about a feminine experience. A woman decides to paint her nails red, the colour
Because I am proud of my hands. of danger and passion, for a variety of reasons: she believes it to be a ‘public service’; to show
Because it will remind me I am a woman. that she is ‘proud’ of her hands; to remind her of her femininity; to show that she is strong; to
improve her appearance and give her something to do in ‘traffic jams’; to vex her daughter; to
Because I will look like a survivor.
‘surprise’ her lover; because it is ‘quick’ and ‘reversible’.
Because I can admire them in traffic jams.
Because my daughter will say ugh. Form and Structure
Because my lover will be surprised.
Because it is quicker than dyeing my hair. The poem is formed by a series of simple statements, all of which begin with the word
‘because’.
Because it is a ten-minute moratorium.
Because it is reversible. Comparative Ideas

Consider the other poems in the collection which deal with female experiences. Consider also
Carole Satyamurti
the other poems in the collection which are about making decisions.