After I don’t eat much
take my rocket launcher
to the front yard
as an excuse to watch
the haunted mailbox
hoping
Lucy checked her mail
and Mr. Crunch is hanging
out the opening
the red flag droops
no mist drifts from it
the tree in the front yard
eats all my rockets
go to my room
reread the letters
scribble in my notebook
afraid I missed something in her answers
afraid I can’t get her what she wants
afraid I’ll spend the rest of my life
afraid.