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.