Poetry Rx: I Wish You a Tongue Scalded by Tea
In our column Poetry Rx, readers write in with a specific emotion, and our resident poets—Sarah Kay, Kaveh Akbar, and Claire Schwartz—take turns prescribing the perfect poems to match. This week, Sarah Kay is on the line.
Original illustration by Ellis Rosen.
Dear Poets,
I have never felt this way about anyone before. At first, I didn’t understand what I was feeling, but I’m sure of it now. I have fallen in hate with someone. He hurt my friend, who loves him, and she’s still with him. I don’t wish him any pain, but I want him to cease being a threat to my friend’s happiness. It has taken up residence in my heart, and it feels like poison. Poets, this is the first time I have loathed someone, and I don’t know how I can go on like this. I was going to ask if you had any poems for hatred, but perhaps my real need is for a poem for unearned forgiveness.
Sincerely,
First Hate
Dear First Hate,
I don’t know if you inhabit the same corner of the Internet that I do, but my corner has been abuzz this week with new diss tracks flying between prominent rappers. In light of these toward people’s favorite diss tracks of all time. The responses have been delightful and surprising, including “Be Prepared,” by Scar, in , “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “The Last Midnight” from . So while I am definitely not delighted to hear that your friend has been hurt, I just a little bit delighted by your letter, because it gives me an excuse to share one of favorite diss tracks of all time, the poem “” by Jeanann Verlee. In it, Verlee writes:
