Infancy

Born to the world with my hands clenched,

I wept and shut my eyes;

Into my mouth a breast was forced,

To step 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.