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

she said
you were a wonderful boy this evening
at a dinner among friends so attentive so
grown up the boy's heart oh his ribs
may crack with happiness he runs dangerously
out into the street calling come come every-
body it's this way we're going this way he turns
wants to look up into her face come Mother she
laughs and follows but there's no help his eyes
are tipped with tears

in only
a few birthdays love will find his whole body
beat at his skin to get out out his knees
weakened he bows his head kneels
before the other a girl love-threaded
as he has been begging relief