For centuries we’ve been as wise as fools.
Without us, they’d have perished by their rules.

They never must outlaw our traitor kiss.
They must not raise their hand to stop our flood.

Without us, they’d have perished by their rules.
Long generous, long selfish, ancient gift

of sacrifice to sand and flour, the drift—
For centuries we’ve been as wise as fools

/

the kiss we give and give, to cool the earth,
(shaping the room that we need to give birth)

For centuries we’ve been as wise as fools.
Without us, they’d have perished by their rules.

First published in Women’s Studies Quarterly