contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

Frankie mercadoOccasionallyOccasionally you waited, but I never arrived.Occasionally you called, but I never answered.Occasionally you thought I was faithful.Occasionally I made promises that I forgot and never kept.These are the things that happen in life. I feel like I abandoned you.I don’t know when or how I broke down.I’m missing you, occasionally.Gaining Perspective121frankie mercadoFrankie Mercado, age 31, studies at the New York Public Library’s SewardPark Center for Reading and Writing, where Terry Sheehan is the siteadvisor and Hilary Schenker is the literacy assistant. He would like to thankMeghan O’Connell, his tutor. Frankie Mercado says, “I was born in PuertoRico, came to New York when I was two and was raised in Park Slope. I liketo write poetry and short stories.”