Simon Perry’s granite and stainless-steel statue, The Public Purse, was installed in the Bourke St Mall in 1994 in response to a call for interesting steet seating. Just about when Anthony O’Sullivan was starting to get his heart broken. For the third time.

Depending on the season, the purse is an ideal place to watch the world go by. In summer, you can relish the sensation of stone against bare legs while wondering if you’ve got change for the tram’s ticket machine. In winter, you can – literally – chill out and wonder where all your money went after soaking up one too many of Melbourne’s shopping delights.

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This poem is a part of Writings on the Wall.