Dearest Olivia,
Thank you so much for your note. I’m sorry for the delay. Life has been rather hectic recently.
However, I’ve enclosed a poem by Langston Hughes called “To Be Somebody.” I love this poem because of the inspiration it has given me as an artist struggling, striving and working to make it to the top of my profession. The beauty of the poem is that there is always room for each and every one of us at the top.
Many Thanks, Best Wishes and Great Success.
Sincerely,
To BE SOMEBODY
Little girl
Dreaming of a baby grand piano
(Not knowing there’s a Steinway bigger, bigger)
Dreaming of a baby grand to play
That stretches paddle-tailed across the floor,
Not standing upright
Like a bad boy in the corner,
But sending music
Up the stairs and down the stairs
And out the door
To confound even Hazel Scott
Who might be passing!
Oh!
Little boy
Dreaming of boxing gloves
Joe Louis wore,
The gloves that sent
Two dozen men to the floor.
Knockout!
Bam! Bop! Mop!
There’s always room,
They say,
At the top.
— Langston Hughes
