To Whom It May Concern

Kathryn Merry

April 2, 2023

inspired by these lines from Yehuda Amichai's poem “Letter of Recommendation”

That’s not a scar you feel under my shirt, that’s

a letter of recommendation, folded up tight,

from my father:

“All the same, he’s a good boy, and full of love.”

It may be I present a challenge

Even as I slip this missive to your open heart

Into your open hand

And close it between mine,

Addressing you:

Sweet future someone,

The boy who this concerns

May not, at first, seem qualified for the position,

Being a manic machinist in some hours

And a jazz vocalist in others.

It could be you had overlooked him,

But his name no doubt you knew,

you found it written on your palm -

He’s a magician, too.

The office he aspires to hold

Has yet to seat a trained tinkerist,

Card palace architect,

And mind reader (self-taught).

His experience installing buttons

Just to push them may not be what you had in mind.

Still, this has found its way to you,

At the X on the map he drew -

He’s a cartographer, too.

And that may count for something.

In sum, it is possible there’s

no resume more flawed -

he is

over-confident

all thumbs

and not remotely prepared -

all the same, he’s a good boy, and full of love.

Kathryn Merry was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and spent most of her adult life as an actress based in New York. She is currently living and writing in North Texas with her young family and rascal dog Ralph. Her poetry was featured in Soul Art Renewal by the Greater Denton Arts Council and published by the Denton Poets Assembly in When Poets Meet Poets: A Read and Respond Anthology.