for Estefani Lora, PS 132, Washington Heights

*

Elephant on an orange line, underneath a yellow
circle

meaning sun.

6 green, vertical lines, with color all from
the top

meaning flowers.

*

The first time I peel back the 5 squares of
Scotch tape,

unfold the crooked-crease fold of art class
paper,

I am in my living room.

It is June.

Inside of the card, there is one long word,
& then

Estefani's name:

Loisfoeribari

Estefani Lora

*

Loisfoeribari?

*

Loisfoeribari: The scientific, Latinate way
of saying hibiscus.

*

Loisfoeribari: A direction, as in: Are you
going

North? South? East? West? Loisfoeribari?

*

I try, over & over, to read the word out
loud.

Loisfoeribari. LoISFOeribari.

LoiSFOEribari. LoisFOERibARI.

*

What is this word?

I imagine using it in sentences like,

"Man, I have to go back to the house,

I forgot my Loisfoeribari."

or

"There's nothing better than rain, hot
rain,

open windows with music, & a tall glass

of Loisfoeribari."

or

"How are we getting to Pittsburgh?

Should we drive or take the Loisfoeribari?"

*

I have lived 4 minutes with this word not
knowing

what it means.

*

It is the end of the year. I consider writing
my student,

Estefani Lora, a letter that goes:

To The BRILLIANT Estefani Lora!

Hola, querida, I hope that you are well.
I've
just opened the card that
you made me, and it is beautiful.
I
really love the way you filled the sky with
birds. I believe that
you are chula,
chulita, and super fly! Yes, the card
is beautiful.
I only have one question
for you. What does the word
'Loisfoeribari'
mean?

*

I try the word again.

Loisfoeribari.

Loisfoeribari.

Loisfoeribari.

*

I try the word in Spanish.

Loisfoeribari

Lo-ees-fo-eh-dee-bah-dee

Lo-ees-fo-eh-dee-bah-dee

& then, slowly,
Lo is fo e ri bari

Lo is fo eribari

*

love is for everybody

love is for every every body love

love love everybody love

everybody love love

is love everybody

everybody is love

love love for love

for everybody

for love is everybody

love is forevery

love is forevery body

love love love for body

love body body is love

love is body every body is love
is every love

for every love is love

for love everybody love love

love love for everybody

loveisforeverybody