Born to the world with my hands clenched,
I wept and shut my eyes;
Into my mouth a breast was forced,
To stop 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.