Sure, I remember Bennie.
We all remember him.
In fourth grade he stood for the class picture
in his bib overalls,
fists crossed to look as tough
as George Sanchez.
We all wanted that macho look.
Red's gang would pick out the weak
who didn't look mean and
hit like the wolves culling a deer herd.
In high school he was a football player.
The coaches had to search high
and low for a football uniform
that would fit Bennie.
They got the smallest they could find
and the helmet still turned 90 degrees
every time he was hit.
When he came onto the field
opponents though he was our secret weapon,
a fast, slippery scat back.
When he lined up at guard you could hear
their quarterback thinking:
"power play to right guard."
Bennie got many tackles that way.
Sure, I remember,
but Bennie remembers everything.
That's why we call him "Bennie the Rememberer".
Want to know the score
against Raton in the fall of '44?
Ask Bennie, he will remember that,
and who made the touchdowns,
and who the quarterback was dating.
What a retentive mind.
I have never seen the like.
I have known lots of
MDs, PhDs and graduate students
in exotic studies.
But, none could store
as much information
beyond their orals as Bennie
uses for casual conversations.
Bennie is the expert on names and dates.
Need a time, a name
or some other bit of information?
Ask Bennie.
He has courage and he remembers.
I wonder where Bennie would have gone if
he had not been born poor?
Could he have been president if
his name had not been Garcia?
And does he remember the hurt
of these barriers?