On Millie's Dresser

My mom sent me a letter...

From jail...

It’s been on my bedroom dresser for two days

Opened, but unread

Her inmate number is familiar

I’ve seen it on so many cards

On birthdays and Christmas

I looked forward to those!

But this one...

It’s been on my bedroom dresser for two days

I know that yellow legal paper

I know most of what’s written on it too

We’ve done this all my life

Unfortunately

I owe part of my ability to write well to her

My dad didn’t write us much

He called

And came by when he was out

But mom wrote

And wrote well

But right now I don’t want to read it

Because I’m not ready to go back there right now

I’m not in the space to deal with it right now

It’s been on my bedroom dresser for three days

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The Journal of an Angry Black Man

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