Now more than thirty years have come and gone 
and still I thrill to feel her hand in mine, 
or better yet, her hand hither and yon, 
exploring all my places—how divine! 
The magic that occurs beneath our sheets, 
I cannot say, for it would make her blush. 
Her cheeks of peach would blossom into beets, 
and mortified, she’d plead with me to hush. 
Or maybe I would bow my head in shame 
to speak of things that one does not speak of. 
But why not shout out to the world and name 
the tender ways she showers me with love? 
Some things they say are better left unsaid. 
But not undone. I’m going back to bed. 

Lesléa Newman

has created 86 books for readers of all ages including the dual memoir-in-verse, I Carry My Mother and I Wish My Father; the novel-in-verse, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; the fully illustrated poetic biography, Always Matt: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard; and the children’s books: Sparkle Boy; The Babka Sisters; Joyful Song: A Naming Story; The Boy Who Called Fabulous; Ketzel, The Cat Who Composed; and Heather Has Two Mommies.

Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, two National Jewish Book Awards, two American Library Association Stonewall Honors, an Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award Honorable Mention, and a Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award. From 2008-2010 she served as the poet laureate of Northampton, MA.

Author’s website: https://lesleanewman.com