It ain't easy being green...

Letter to Kermit from the Swamp
Jericho Brown

Miss you something desperate, frog.
Gators going mad round here--
swallowed both the Ribbit twins whole
just last week. We fear
for the tadpoles, their future.

Hear you're doing well, though,
decked in sweet tuxedos and top hats,
all your warts removed. They say
the blonde's got you in tap shoes
singing the blues like show tunes
with her on stage next to you,

done up in sequins and tiaras,
a real pretty pink trophy. Never did see
why you ran off with her,
snooty as she is, not to mention
snouty, but I'm happy for you

long as you're happy. Still, it'd be nice
if you'd visit home sometime;
maybe we could sing together
the way we used to. Your crooning
always kept the gators calm. So don't forget us
on the lily pads, frog. It still ain't easy

being green. Your brother, Kermel.


Jericho Brown is a student in the PhD program in Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Houston. He is originally from New Orelans, LA.