KATE AT 20

 

KATE AT 20

Sometime in December I began

thinking about your birthday like this,

Damn, Kate’s gonna be 20,

and here we are. Yesterday

a book of poems came

in the mail. Second

Childhood. I ordered

it for myself. Marie

Howe says she’s decided

not to grow up. I’m following

in her footsteps, Kate.

You’re the first one

I’ve told. Grandma

sewed you a cover

for a new sketch book.

You’re an artist

with an eye for eyes

who thinks in geological

time. Called

to all this! You!

What kind of child

would I be

if I tried to give you

advice on your birthday.

Gpa

21 January 2026