Ode to a Mailman

February 25, 2012 at 3:50 AM

Dear Mailman,

Do you know what you hold in your hands?
Do you realize the power that lies in the letters you handle?
Do you comprehend the anxiousness of your waiting customers?
Do you understand the heights of happiness they can rise to, or the depths of despair they can plunge to?
Do you know the earth-shaking differences between a fat letter and a thin one?
Do you see that an entire future is at stake in these letters?
Do you understand the power of those awful words, "We regret to inform you"?
Do you comprehend how much is riding in your capable hands, while you drive through snow and sleet, rain and shine?

Two letters, in the mailbox.
One is thin, and one is fat.
One is from the audition where my tone was thin, and my intonation scratchy.
One is from the audition with the friendly faces, the beautiful practice rooms, and the school that I least wanted.
One is from a place with August Personages, Caterpillars, and broken hair ties. It is the one I desperately wished would go right.

The thin letter comes from the thin audition.
The fat letter comes from where it is least wanted.

O Mr. Mailman, do you know?

From E. Smith
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 4:14 AM

I feel compelled to respond to this poem, since no one else has. It is oddly affecting.

I like the line, "One is from a place with August Personages, Caterpillars, and broken hair ties." I'm not sure what caterpillars and hair ties are doing in the poem, but it's a great image.

I like the figurative language, "The thin audition." Good job. In life, we all get our share of thin letters from thin auditions-- you have voiced this feeling well.

From Emily Hogstad
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 4:46 PM

I have waited for so many of these in my life. One of the first things I learned when I started writing professionally was, always look for the thick envelope!! Same goes with auditions, clearly. Thanks so much for posting.

From Joyce Lin
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:02 PM

Love your writing! :)

E. Smith: If you read her blog from December, you will know where "August Personages, Caterpillars, and broken hair ties" come from.

From Lisa Van Sickle
Posted on February 27, 2012 at 1:23 AM

The place with friendly faces and beautiful practice rooms may be a great place for you to spend the next four years. I hope it is.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on February 27, 2012 at 9:37 AM

You intrigue me. Please, keep writing!

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