Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Mistah Kurtz he dead?

Dear Mistah Maga,
I was told to write to you because
Mistah Kurtz—he dead.

I was not sure if you knew
that Mistah Kurtz was dead
but now that he is
I was told you are the new mastah.

Mistah Maga,
I think I saw you once
in a red headpiece
near the cave of carved stones
in the heart of the land
in the valley of dying stars.

I am not sure it was you
because there were
others there, too,
all wearing one of the
red headpieces you made for them;
they were leaning together
sometimes whispering and
sometimes cheering,
quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass.

I thought I recognized you
from your smile.
You are the only one
I’ve seen smile that way,
like a Shape without form,
shade without colour.

I just wanted you to know
that I am here
at your service,
because I am not sure
if you knew that.
The land is yours now.
I am sorry to say
that there are only a few more
like me here,
but we are gathered
In this hollow valley
In this last of meeting places
where
We grope together
trying not to avoid speech

We know you are a powerful leader—
you must be very powerful
because we saw
many wearing your headpieces.
All of them were bathed
and clean shaven,
young and confident—
good marchers!—
hollow men
with headpieces,
made in your image.

But we are at your service,
Mistah Maga.

Sincerely,
n.p.

……………….

Mistah Kurtz—he dead?
by Troy Cady

*italicized portions are lines from The Hollow Men by T.S. Eliot. The line “Mistah Kurtz—he dead” is quoted by Eliot from The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, a novel about the breakdown of colonialism, among other themes.





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