Graphite
--
Inspired by To Aurthur Miller, a poem by T. Keisling

Dearest Mr. Miller,
I'm writing to say thanks
for giving hope to a
younger generation.

I read your work
when I was a boy
in high school, and
once, during my
junior year,
I made a poster
for a presentation
with a huge black
and white photo
of your face in the center.

We were studying
"The Crucible" and how
you faced down the monster
that was Mr. McCarthy.
Then, out of curiosity
I read "Death of a Salesman"
and applauded you yet again.
But I learned on
one dreamy autumn day
when my English teacher
read your bio in class
that you were married to the
epitome of bombshells.

A blonde icon with
proportions every man
would kill to behold.
I looked at my poster,
at your smiling, black
and white photo in the center
and I understood
a couple of things that day.
I understood why you were smiling:
because you were at
the top of your game
and because you had
Mrs. Monroe to keep you
warm at night.

I envied you that day
but now I thank you
because you gave me hope.
Because now I know
even us geeky literary types
can get a piece of the pie.

I applaud you today
for smiling at me
from that poster
and for helping me to decide
that yes, yes, dear God yes!
I want to be a writer
just like you, Mr. Miller.
Only like you