won't you celebrate with me by Lucille Clifton

won't you celebrate with me  
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my one hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.

~ from Book of Light (Copper Canyon Press, 1993)