This is a poem called Beyond--
"Behind Grandma's House."
It's a poem about wanting to become a boxer,
and here's how it goes.
And there's a reference to Brylcreem.
Brylcreem is a hair gel, for those who don't know.
"Behind Grandma's House"
"At ten, I wanted fame.
I had a comb and two coke bottles, a tube of Brylcreem.
I borrowed a dog, one with mismatched eyes
and a happy tongue, and wanted to prove
I was tough in the alley, kicking
over trash cans, a dull chime of tuna cans falling.
I hurled light bulbs like grenades,
and men teachers held their heads, fingers of blood
lengthening, on the ground.
I flicked rocks at cats, their goofy
faces sprayed with foxtails.
I kicked fences.
I shooed pigeons.
I broke a branch from a flowering peach,
and frightened ants with a stream of spit.
I said, 'Chale,' 'In your face,' 'No way
Daddy-O' to an imaginary priest, until my abuelita came
into the alley, her apron flapping in the breeze,
her hair mussed, and said, 'Let me help you,' and punched me
between the eyes."
[LAUGHTER]