Spam for President | Harryette Mullen | Granta

Spam for President

Harryette Mullen

A hot pocket in every Chernobyl, a pig in every inbox. I’m announcing early that I’m running for the top spot. I’m building a beautiful mall. You will receive daily updates on our campaign, complimentary tickets to our rallies, a chance to win free hotdogs for your family.

My voice may grate your nerves again. The electoral system is broken, but I can fix the race. My critics are enemies of the people. I can handle those losers. Fortunately, I consider you a friend. I’m already counting your vote. One thing you can say for me, I deliver the pork.

 

Image © Hannes Johnson 

Harryette Mullen

Harryette Mullen is a poet and a professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she teaches creative writing and African American literature. Her collections of poetry include S*PeRM**K*T (1992), Sleeping with the Dictionary (2002), Recyclopedia (2006), Urban Tumbleweed: Notes from a Tanka Diary (2012), and Open Leaves (2023).

More about the author →