Born to the world with my hands clenched, I wept and shut my eyes; Into my mouth a breast was forced, To stop my bitter cries. I did not know -- nor cared to know -- A woman from a man; Until I saw a sudden light, And all my joys began. From that great hour my hands went forth, And I began to prove That many a thing my two eyes saw My hands had power to move: My fingers now began to work, And all my toes likewise; And reaching out with fingers stretched, I laughed, with open eyes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SURFACE AND STRUCTURE: BONAVENTURE HOTEL, LOS ANGELES by KAREN SWENSON BABY RUNNING BAREFOOT by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE THE SWAN SONG OF PARSON AVERY by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER FRED ENGLEHARDT'S BABY by CHARLES FOLLEN ADAMS WHITE FOR MOURNING by AL-FATA AL-KAFIF THE POET'S SHIELD by ARCHILOCHUS TO A HUMMING BIRD by GLADYS ARNE VERSES, SUGGESTED BY THE FUNERAL OF AN EPITAPH IN BURY CHURCH-YARD by BERNARD BARTON |