Autobiography

  –after Frank O’Hara

When I was a kid,

I played with matches,

wet the bed, told lies

and lied about lying.

I fed my vegetables

to the dog, shoplifted

Snickers, punched my brother,

bb-gunned the backyard birds.

I kissed a girl, I kissed a

boy, I ran away from home;

I smoked a joint, popped a pill,

cheated on my SATs.

And here I am:  a

briefcase full of minor

misdemeanors.  All rise!

barks the bailiff.  All rise!

pacificREVIEW, 2007