That Beautiful Boy Who Lives Across from the Handy Andy

invited me

to his birthday

party. Twenty-

eight this Saturday,

December 2nd, 1989.

So Saturday

night I am going

to put on my prettiest

dress, the black one

with the green

and purple sequins,

and my cowboy boots.

And I am going

to be there

with a six-pack

and this poem,

like any fool who loves

to look at a cloud,

or evening poppy,

or a red red pickup truck.

for John Hernández in memoriam