fan mail and hate mail
I get fan mail from time to time.
The stuff which people
want me to know about themselves.
“Fuck you,” one of them began.
I read it.
The sender critiqued my writing
and told me how I could improve.
I wrote back that I would write a bit
about hate mail and I asked if I could use
their name.
The sender said the idea was a good one
but not to use their name.
The hate mail is fine.
I can deal with that.
Then I get the mail
praising me.
“You are really great,” the letters say.
“Great!”
“Your stuff: it’s really great!”
Of the two, hate and love,
hate is less confusing.
Such is life.
