The first female postie in Hobart

I was the only female to sit the postman's exam
first out of forty the postmaster said
he had to take me 'cos that was the rules
though he told me the boys could get a bit rough
out the back sorting the mail in the mornings.

It was like walking into an all-male bar
where they didn't really want to serve you
determined to stay even drink for drink
and I did; though they softened and the sorting room went from quiet
to the stories of the rounds, out doing each other with stories
of what woman lived where, who gave tips for Christmas
and the dog stories.

When I was tested on sorting letters into rounds
they covered me, even though I didn't know it
and when the registered mail had its cheque stolen
they stood by me like godfathers
and when the bike safety weekend at the Police Academy came round
I was the new kid to be sent so's they could all stay home

One day I spat my temper
and was presented with a baby's dummy for the shift
and though the boss never wanted to give me a uniform
in case I'd leave
and though they never asked me to the pub after paydays
we still nod to each other when we meet
like any motorcyclist ackowledging another on the road.

© Liz Winfield