Hello, Momma. How you doing? I’m all right.
But you know of my propensity to lie.
When I say that I care for the world, but I don’t.
When I say I care for nothing, but I do.
When I remember how you took my hand
and said that new-school first-days weren’t all bad.
Your were right, and three times right, and then I left
you to age in prosperity, and alone
while I engaged in living, made you proud —
and lonelier than when I was a little boy
and let you know I needed you. I do.