From “Aubade East” by Rita Dove

This morning there ain’t nothing I can’t do. 
This is my territory, I know all of it— 
ten long blocks flanked by might water. 
Walking any Avenue is like riding 
a cosmic surfboard on the biggest wave 

Rita Dove an American writer and the first Black poet to serve as Poet Laureate Consultant for the Library of Congress. Her poetry collections include Thomas and Beulah and Playlist for the Apocalypse, where this poem can be found.