it was the bop
a bounce on the balls of his feet
the arms swinging
the yo joe
he could stand for hours
concentrating on blowing bubbles
with his tongue
a circus trick
in the Parker Revue
he was what is called a stand-up guy
and I watched him stand up for others
always ready to defend a friend
he had, what Kevin called, heart
and once in some bar
he came flying across the room
pool cue a sword in his hands
to save Mike Velaquez in a brawl
and ended up with a glass in his face
forty-six stitches later
his badge of honor
I remember how he dressed first
tight dress pants
shirt open three buttons
crucifix around his neck
ankle high boots
jade east cologne
his hair combed and sprayed
he had to look his best
for the doctor and nurses
while they stitched his face
he never finished high school
was driving a delivery truck
last I heard
still blowing those bubbles
when stuck in traffic
with his tongue