“I am becoming the woman I've wanted,grey at the temples,soft body, delighted,cracked up by lifewith a laugh that's known bitterbut, past it, got better,knows she's a survivor--that whatever comes,she can outlast it.I am becoming a deepweathered basket.I am becoming the woman I've longed for,the motherly loverwith arms strong and tender,the growing up daughterwho blushes surprises.I am becoming full moonsand sunrises.I find her becoming,this woman I've wanted,who knows she'll encompass,who knows she's sufficient,knows where she's goingand travels with passion.Who remembers she's precious,but knows she's not scarce--who knows she is plenty,plenty to share.”

“She is becoming what I wanted she the last with the Arctic eyes to become, which is someone who loves me. Simply and truly as I am. It is hard to stare at her because I know she is starting to love me, I am starting to love her back. I don't care what she's done or who she's done it with, I don't care about whatever demons may be in her closet. I care about how she makes me feel and she makes me feel strong and safe and calm and warm and true. It is hard to stare because I am forced to contemplate giving it up. It is hard to stare, but I do it anyway.”

“There are things that a woman sings, and only a woman knows the full meaning. You may sing for men as well as for women, but only a woman knows your full meaning. I am not a feminista. I only think a woman should be true to who she believes herself to be. Or who she wants herself to be. Or who she imagines herself to be. I don't know what I mean, or whether I'm true myself to any of that. I don't think there are many of us who are true to our possibilities. ”

“It's about a girl who is on the cusp of becoming someone.. A girl who may not know what she wants right now, and she may not know who she is right now, but who deserves the chance to find out.”

“Every woman is a gift when she becomes a daughter, Every woman is beautiful when she becomes a lover, Every woman is special when she becomes a wife, Every woman is a god when she becomes a Mother”

“How do I tell her that what I want is to know her, to know the woman who made these birds, to see what she might become if she is allowed to spread out, to expand. How do I say, Darling, please. Don't shrink yourself so soon.”