Here are postcards from captivity, written
in a childlike hand in Arabic,
Albanian, Igbo, Pashtu, Urdu,
Masalit, Yoruba, French, English…
Dear Mr People Smuggler, You lured me
across a dangerous sea with the promise
of Mickey Mouse and all my favourites
on the walls of the detention centre
where I am now. They have been painted over.
PS I know they were here. If I squint
I can just see some of Donald Duck’s beak…
Dear King Charles, I know you are an artist.
Please come here and repaint Mickey Mouse
when you have a moment in your busy
opening of flower shows and other things.
Thank you, Your Majesty. PS Someone here
has told me that, though you are Head of State,
you have no power. I cannot believe this.
I know you are a very, very rich man…
Dear God, On the television that plays
all day with no sound or subtitles high up
in the empty recreation room,
was a map of this country with dots
and photos of children my age with rickets.
How can this be here? PS Please send Angels
to bring Mickey and the others back to life…
By David Selzer