Fire Island and Their Sister

In his third book of poetry, Félix Garmendía celebrates the popular LGBTQ+ vacation destinations of Fire Island and commemorates Titania, a trans woman of Manhattan.

In his first book, Flying On Invisible Wings, Félix lives parts of his lonely childhood, journeys to the USA, becomes triumphantly accepted. Contracts HIV, hangs on, HIV becomes undetectable. Finds everlasting love, gets married. Then, as if daring him to stay happy, Inclusion Body Myositis lands him in a wheelchair. He continues to live and love with his husband in Washington/Hudson Heights in Manhattan, and finds his poetic voice.

Félix's second book, Poems of Reckoning and Hope, explores his neighborhood, the pandemic, and January 6 and its ramifications. He continues to hold out the possibility of hope through the USA's dire recokoning.

Now, in his third book, Félix sails to Fire Island. Then we meet Titania, trans woman of Manhattan. As we read Félix's detailed poems about both, we enter the next stage of his life. And we cheer his deep and unquestionable support for and celebration of the people he knows and loves best.