ghazal on how to birth a boy

in cover of shower / I comb my hair behind ears / press wet strands

into back of neck / what if scissors can turn / tomboy to strong boy

my brother gets to play outside with dirty nails / I watch from

window / blow my tita’s new polish / beg / can I come along, boy?

my church socks turn black from concrete / the boys play basketball

their naked torsos sprint across lines / sweat shirtless & free / I long boy

to enter the smoking garage / of uncle’s cigars on christmas eve

for summer’s popsicle / to lick my chest flat / you belong, boy

in my dreams / i run naked and it does not hurt / what if   I never bleed?

or my breasts never grow? / I am no one’s baby sister / after dawn boy