Grace Paley

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

poet Grace Paley

Here - Poem by Grace Paley

Here I am in the garden laughing
an old woman with heavy breasts
and a nicely mapped face

how did this happen
well that's who I wanted to be

at last a woman
in the old style sitting
stout thighs apart under
a big skirt grandchild sliding
on off my lap a pleasant
summer perspiration

that's my old man across the yard
he's talking to the meter reader
he's telling him the world's sad story
how electricity is oil or uranium
and so forth I tell my grandson
run over to your grandpa ask him
to sit beside me for a minute I
am suddenly exhausted by my desire
to kiss his sweet explaining lips.


Comments about Here by Grace Paley

  • Susan Williams (7/7/2016 4:26:00 PM)


    Absolutely love this unexpected piece of sheer unadulterated joy-in-life poetry! It makes me want to meet the wonderful woman in this poem! ! ! I have to treasure this! (Report) Reply

    4 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Jayatissa K. Liyanage (7/7/2016 4:06:00 AM)


    Feelings are personal; Intimate and genuine; Thoughts are natural, fresh and candid; Meaning is profound and touching; Picture painted with all that is simply superb. Congrats for being the POD. X (Report) Reply

    0 person liked.
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  • Edward Kofi Louis (7/7/2016 3:22:00 AM)


    Identity! ! That's who i wanted to be. Thanks for sharing. (Report) Reply

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  • Robert Murray Smith (7/7/2016 1:26:00 AM)


    A great poem. Thank you. (Report) Reply

    0 person liked.
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  • (10/25/2014 10:50:00 PM)


    Silly me. I'm in tears. What a perfectly formed piece of writing. I could see this picture so clearly and wanted to step in and smile. This is how poetry should be. Uncontrived, honest, beautifully put, welcoming, intimate and with a twist at the end to gather a smile. (Report) Reply

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • (10/25/2014 9:15:00 AM)


    Here is a beautiful poem of love and it is so interesting.The old age the beauty of life all is nice. (Report) Reply

    1 person liked.
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  • Aftab Alam Khursheed (10/25/2014 12:30:00 AM)


    This is the love sitting on the old and bulky branch cooing and oozing love so nice (Report) Reply

    2 person liked.
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  • (10/25/2013 4:09:00 PM)


    Very sweet
    How time has passed
    Reflecting     (Report) Reply

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • (10/25/2013 4:08:00 PM)


    Very sweet
    How time has passed
    Reflecting     (Report) Reply

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • (10/25/2013 4:06:00 PM)


    Very sweet
    How time has passed
    Reflecting     (Report) Reply

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • (10/25/2013 2:58:00 AM)


    Here I am now
    looking forward
    to retirement
    after reading
    this poem.     (Report) Reply

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • (10/25/2012 3:56:00 AM)


    Just perfect......this sets the scene in my minds eye of my past and future in equal measures.....wonderful... (Report) Reply

    3 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
Read all 12 comments »




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Read poems about / on: woman, kiss, sad, summer, world, women, running



Poem Submitted: Monday, January 13, 2003

Poem Edited: Wednesday, October 5, 2011
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