Poetry Corner

By

Clinton A. Johnston

(This is a recreation of a piece improved from an outline for the February 28, 2003 No Shame Theatre in Charlottesville, the week after an uncommonly dense snowfall.)

Characters

Announcer – local NPR radio announcer

Russel Anderson-Martin – host of a local radio show on a local NPR station

[In the Blackout]

Later tonight on your local NPR station is The Money Miser with Frank Welky at six o' clock, followed by Stardate with Jack Handley at 7 and A Thistle and Shamrock with your host, Theona Ritchie at 7:30. Coming up next is Poetry Corner with Russel Martin-Anderson.  This is WLPR, local public radio.

[Lights up.  Play Track #6 (J.S. Bach)]

Hello, I'm Russel Martin-Anderson, and this is Poetry Corner.

[Fade out Track #6]

This evening on Poetry Corner, we look at a favorite local poet who breaks new ground in a stunning collection.  But first, some announcements.

In March, Jack Withers up at the university is once again offering his Poetry Appreciation course under the Neighborhood Scholars Continuing Education Program.  Designed for those with a passing knowledge but great interest in the language arts, Jack promises a kind but rigorous introduction to poetry's various styles and forms.  By the end, participants should have a deeper grasp of and thus appreciation of poetry and should be finally able to understand terms like "schaudenfreud," "Weltschmerz," "Sturm und Drum," "Bildungsroman," "Gefilte Fish," "Dusseldorf," and "Hindenburg."  Contact the Office of Continuing Education for registration information.

Our main feature tonight concerns a well-known figure in our own little literary scene, local writer, Dave Nystrom, or as he is called by his dedicated fans, who are legion ... Dave, the Angry Suburban Poet.

After making a splash a couple of years ago like a cannonball at a backyard cookout with his unique and distinctive expressions of the "sturm und drum" of suburban life, Dave has kept both his fans and his critics waiting for a follow up to rival that first brilliant collection of poems.  Unfortunately, the wait has mostly been in vain as Dave's efforts over the past year have been few and far between.  With no larger work forthcoming, audiences have had to make due with a trickle of individual, ultimately disappointing poems, poems, on one hand, like the highly derivative "You kids; You kids; You kids and your MTV, you kids" and, on the other hand, the seemingly embarrassingly personal "The Babysitter's Pants."  By the way, due to your concerned calls, we've checked with little Mary Jo Flemming.  She insists it's just a work of fiction, and she's okay.

But this winter, Dave has rewarded his true believers by a new, heart-stopping collection titled, simply, Blizzard. 

Blizzard features many pieces that are just as strong and intense as the strongest of Dave's previous works, pieces like "Cabin Fever," "Digging Out," and "Send the Kids to School."  But behind these offerings sit a second tier of work that shows us a deeper, more contemplative Dave than we seen before – works like, "Accumulation," which is a doleful consideration of the waning fire of a long-term relationship explored through the trope of examining the effect that long-standing snow has on a very expensive outdoor grill.  Or "snowflake," a stirring meditation on the frailty and yet abundance of life.  My personal favorite, however, is probably, "The Plow," a careful treatment of when the hope for liberation turns into the despair of deeper imprisonment.  True ... too true, Dave.

So thrilled by this new offering was I that I tracked Dave down to ask him about his work.  I found him last Saturday morning, de-icing his driveway.  When I asked him to comment on his new collection, he simply said, "That's my stuff."  Spoken like a true artist.

[Play Track #6]

And that's it for this week's Poetry Corner.  Please tune in next week where we take a look at yet another local poet.  This time it's Amanda French and her latest collection of steamy, romantic offerings,  Amanda French: Kisses.   I'm Russel Anderson-Martin.  Goodnight and good words.

"Poetry Corner" debuted February 28, 2003, performed by Clinton Johnston.

[Back to Library]