Spring Birth Born in March, I was never baptized, my parents decided I should decide for myself. Grew up in a Wesleyan school. I have recited Our Father Who so many times I'm dumb. I don't miss the uniform, the ties, or the chemistry teacher. Now I almost never pray. I liked not being popular. But I've had more than five good friends. Raised in an exclusive neighborhood of an inclusive city on rice-beans and pork chops. The first grandchild, nephew, son. I was, as expected, spoiled. My grandfather was a poet and a journalist. Grandma hid his manuscripts, but I read his poems in secret. Enjoyed my family, although I told them little of my life. Collected the songs of Felipe Pirela. Discovered love at twenty, wept for the love at twenty-six, confused it with lust and transformed it into a good many farewells at forty. True, the best shags are not those one-night stands.
