Felix Stefanile Poems

When Robert Lowell hyphenated you-
Italian, hyphen sign, American-
to praise your poetry, your answer ran
in rough-house expletives. Your passion flew,
...

Your words, Genoveffa,
through the open window,
telling me once again what to buy at the store-
...

He was all back,
his stance was clumsy,
ran like a horse,
...

We were the smart kids of the neighborhood
where, after high school, no one went to school,
you NYU and I CCNY.
We eyed each other at St. Gabriel's
...

Carmen, you were seven. You sought me after school,
just came alongside as I marched away,
and fcll in stride. I caught your side-long glances.
Beneath your bangs and spit-curls you were pale,
...