Grace Paley (11 December 1922 – 22 August 2007 / Bronx, New York)

One day I decided to not grow any older
lots of luck I said to myself
(my joking self) then I looked up at the sky
which is wide its bluenessits whiteness

low on my left the steamy sun rose moved

I placed my hand against it my whole hand
which is broad from pinky to thumb no my
two hands I bared my teeth to it my teeth
are strongsecure on their gold posts I breathed
deeplyI held my breathI stood on my toes ah

then I was tallerstill the clouds sailed
through me around me it's true I'm just
like them summertime water that the sun
sips and spits into this guzzling earth