You call me <br />courageous, <br />I who grew up <br />gnawing on books, <br />as some kids <br />gnaw <br />on bubble gum, <br /> <br />who married disastrously <br />not once <br />but three times, <br />yet have a lovely daughter <br />I would not undo <br />for all the dope <br />in California. <br /> <br />Fear was my element, <br />fear my contagion. <br />I swam in it <br />till I became <br />immune. <br />The plane takes off <br />& I laugh aloud. <br />Call me courageous. <br /> <br />I am still alive.<br /><br />Erica Jong<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/flying-at-forty/
