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What's in My Bag // Minimal Everyday Essentials 2024

After Maira Kalman's Women Holding Thing
A Poem by Grace Simmonds

In Ma’s handbag, she carries a nail file; sunglasses and a lippy―Revlon’s Rum Raisin. A classic. She carries a black ballpoint pen for emergency birthday cards, a chunky wad of baby wipes and a spare change of clothes. You never know, she says to the snotty child in her right arm. Dinner bulges from Ma’s bag. Tonight, it’s spag bol, tomorrow fajitas―oh wait, no; Ruby has gymnastics, so fajitas on Wednesday, and pizza tomorrow. Must wash her leotard and leggings tonight, otherwise she won’t have anything to wear. Umbrella, car keys, hairdryer, kitchen knife, hope. Ma walks lopsided to balance their weight. Squeezed into sealed sandwich bags, are courage and disappointment. Thin like water, they often leak from her bloated handbag, but Ma is prepared. She carries towels just in case. In the inside pocket of her bag, Ma holds the home. It is bulky, and weird-shaped―hard to support,

often soggy.

About Grace

BoundBy Co-Founder, Marketing Manager, Art Director and editor

Hey, I’m Grace the Co-founder of BoundBy! My main role with the magazine is marketing, editing, event planning, and design (I like to make things look pretty). This generally means selecting images for upcoming editions, producing content to drive readership and submissions, and generally ensuring brand consistency with things like fonts, sizing, colours, and page layout. I love my role!

 

When I look at how far BoundBy has come, starting from a silly idea in our uni-house kitchen to a fully (most of the time) functioning poetry magazine, I feel a massive sense of pride. My most proud moment, was our first open mic night – I think we had 50 people in total show up! Knowing that so many people had come to join and support us was the best feeling in the world. I love being a part of the BoundBy team, and I am excited to continue this journey.

 

Beyond BoundBy, I am studying for a Masters in Publishing at Kingston University and am currently Marketing Manager of their university magazine. In my future, I hope to apply creativity and analytical skills in a dynamic marketing role.

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