Dear Mother, I Have News

“If mama knew now
How you turned out, you too wild
You too wild, you too wild
You too wild, I need you now”
—Kanye West, ‘Wolves’

Dear Mother, we talk and message
But a letter in this instance must be used, for I have
Some twisting news, and it needs presenting in print. To begin with, I am fine
In my new city—studying, young and pretty; and I am getting

O Mummy! I know… I know I’m only putting it off. My letter is just a means
For something else—to only tell you something else. I saw a sight in the city today, and so
Brilliant a sight it was! They were doing a shooting in the park. Shooting
An advert in the park. Then some glorious being from the margins—or the
Sky?—jumped in front of the camera and wouldn’t let them shoot the film.
Refused to let them! So they had to stop the shoot until the police took him.
And he told my close friend’s friend that he did it, “To even things out,” alone. That he
Worked only alone, too, and that, “Even the rise in food critics and child poverty
Are causally linked.” That was enough for me. I got it. I understood him.
And so… O Mummy: be patient and loving! And so, Mummy, I have quit.
I am no longer studying, young or pretty. I am now wild. I do not read or think.
I jump in front of shoots and silliness—adverts and frivolousness—and this’ll be
The life for me; and also my last letter. I hope, sincerely, Mummy… O
Mummy! I hope that you read and read and read, but only this letter
From me. Or just until you feel it all, too? Then read what you like.
I’m silly to the cameras, but
History might see things, and me, differently. And then forget me, I think?
I hope.

O Mummy, do you see why I used a letter
One final time? Because please,
Mummy—you must.