Slowly: a plainsong from an older woman to a younger woman
By Judy Grahn
am I not olden olden olden
it is unwanted.
wanting, wanting
am I not broken
stolen common
am I not crinkled cranky poison
am I not glinty-eyed and frozen
am I not aged
shaky glazing
am I not hazy
guarded craven
am I not only
stingy little
am I not simple
brittle spitting
was I not over
over ridden?
it is a long story
will you be proud to be my version?
it is unwritten.
writing, writing
am I not ancient
raging patient
am I not able
charming stable
was I not building
forming braving
was I not ruling
guiding naming
was I not brazen
crazy chosen
even the stones would do my bidding?
it is a long story
am I not proud to be your version?
it is unspoken.
speaking, speaking
am I not elder
berry
brandy
are you not wine before you find me
in your own beaker?
Copyright Credit: Judy Grahn, “Slowly: a plainsong from an older woman to a younger woman” from love belongs to those who do the feeling: New & Selected Poems (1966-2006). Copyright © 2008 by Judy Grahn. Reprinted by permission of Red Hen Press.
Source: love belongs to those who do the feeling: New & Selected Poems (1966-2006) (Red Hen Press, 2008)