Jane Yolen
Mysteries
Birth is not mysterious
to the mother whose body
is cradle and cafe.
Who listens for breath,
feels a whale swimming
in the sea of her.
She sends hand signals
against her skin,
is rewarded with a kick.
She is the first house,
the first home,
both comfort and comforter.
So why this mystery
about writing something down?
Just open your mind
Take a gulp of air,
bear down hard,
and push.
Jane Yolen has published over 383 books, with 400 in sight! She has received 6 honorary doctorates for her body of work from six New England colleges and universities. New England NPR gave her their Arts & Humanities award.Her latest novel–Mapping the Bones–won the Massachusetts Book Award, YA Category in 2019.Her poetry can be found in journals,magazines, anthologies, and collections, both for adults and children.