grace paley
note to grandparents
The children are healthy
the children are rosy
we take them to the park
we take them to the playground
the swing on the swings
the wind smacks their faces
they jump and are lively
they eat everything
they sleep without crying
they are very smart
each day they grow
you would hardly know them
on the bank street pier
In the mind's eye
the mind cries I I I
the mother's face
the father's looking eye
then sees
then says
the scrambled iron piers
the river's broad as
mother's face
In the mind's ear
talk talk talk
the tickling tongue
of strangers
What is this whiteness on the field?
not rime
or the Lord's snowy reason for exploding summer
it is the mist
that starts the day
with drinks for all
When the wild strawberry leaves turn
red and show the dark place of the strawberries
it is too late
I know this has a
meaning inside my own life
inside dark life
Oh, the dreamer said
and dreamed himself she
it was an unusual day
when all the suns stood
visible and we could see
our light small sighted sun
its rays were bones
of the old wars
