Here Poem by Grace Paley

Here

Rating: 3.1


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 OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 07 July 2016

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!

4 0 Reply
Karen Sinclair 25 October 2012

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

3 1 Reply
Karen Sinclair 25 October 2014

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.

1 2 Reply
Alistair Graham 25 October 2013

Here I am now looking forward to retirement after reading this poem.

2 0 Reply
Liliana ~el 25 October 2013

Very sweet How time has passed Reflecting

2 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 28 January 2024

Congratulations for having got the MPOTD. Thank you for sharing

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 28 January 2024

How loveliest said is this poem, so sweetly rendered.5 Full Stars for this lovely poem, a peaceful sphere created in her words and a satisfactorily atmosphere. Thank you for sharing, and most deserving poem chosen by Poem Hunter and Team as The Modern Poem Of The Day

0 0 Reply
Jayne Louise Davies 23 March 2023

Brilliant poem! Loved it x

0 0 Reply
Lyn Paul 23 March 2023

Being exactly who you want to be.

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Ben In Seattle 19 November 2019

Who wouldn't want to be Grace Paley? An old woman able to look back at a full life of activism: laying down on fifth avenue in NY to block a military parade during a war, climbing fences to protest weapons of mass destruction, being investigated by the FBI and labelled a " communist" .

0 0 Reply
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Grace Paley

Grace Paley

Bronx, New York
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