by Rae’Kwon Willis
Dear Son,
It’s been a while since we have spoken.
I’m happy in life now.
I got a new car, new apartment, and my book is close to getting published like I knew it would.
I just needed to get my life together.
I got the picture that you sent
I can’t believe you got facial hair now.
A full mustache with a beard looking just like me.
I should have taught you how to shave.
You have grown so much.
I remember when you were knee high just a brown baby clinging to my chest.
Now you are as tall as a Blue Spruce.
You still skinny.
What you weigh about 140 now?
Your hair looks dry and nappy.
I taught you how to comb, grease, and wash your hair when you were in middle school.
You always did what you wanted.
Some things don’t change.
How are your brothers and sister?
I hope you remember what I told you before I left,
“Watch after your brothers and sister”
As the oldest,
I left the throne to you
rather you wanted it or not.
You must fulfill it’s obligations.
I know I fucked up,
yet I ask you to sympathize.
I know you won’t ever forgive me.
I think your mom fucked your head up,
I knew she would.
How she been?
I heard she got a boyfriend in jail,
she probably spending all her money on that nigga.
He gonna get out and leave her ass.
STUPID MOTHERFUCKER!!!
SHE WOULDN’T BE SHIT WITHOUT ME!!!
I know you hate when I disrespect your mom.
You always been a mommy’s boy.
I never had my mommy,
or my dad.
Why you always on her side?
You believe everything she tells you,
and say FUCK whatever I say.
I’M YOUR DAD!!!
WHAT ABOUT ME?!!
FUCK YOU RAE’KWON!!!
YOU THINK YOU A BETTER MAN THAN ME??.
YOU NOT!!!
TAKE A LOOK IN THE FUCKING MIRROR!!!
THAT BIG NOSE CAME FROM ME,
THEM SMALL EARS CAME FROM ME,
THAT RAGE I BIRTHED IT IN YOU,
THAT PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE I MASTERED,
AND TAUGHT IT TO YOU!!
YOU THINK YOU SMART ?!!
THAT’S CAUSE OF ME!!!
THAT LOVE FOR WRITING CAME FROM ME!!!
I SHOWED YOU THE POWER OF WRITING BEFORE YOU COULD WRITE COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!
You can’t be better than me…
I MADE YOU!!!
I AM YOU!!!
FUCK YOU AND YO MOMMY!!!
Dear Dad,
Rather fast or slow change will come upon all.
Rae’Kwon Willis is an African American writer who grew up on the Eastside of Denver, Colorado. He is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver. He is an English major with a concentration in secondary education. He has been writing free verse poetry since 2016, but he wouldn’t consider himself a poet. He is simply a writer who writes about the living human experience.