Street Jazz

"Dan, he was a strong one

and not afraid to fight

for things that he believed in

and work for what was right."

A poem appeared in the letters to the editor section of the Northwest Arkansas Times today, entitled, "Standing up for Coody" - though I prefer to call it, "Ode to Dan: The Man with a Plan."

It was penned by Jay Ross, whose poems often appear in "poesia." I try to be respectful of writers, especially those who aren't rich, but honestly, this poem was like having fingernails dragged across the chalkboard. I have gone online and read other poems by Mister Ross, and they pretty much beat this one all to hell.

Admittedly, I was traumatized at an early age by poetry. Going to school in Liverpool for a short time, we had to memorize the damn stuff. And then later, teachers thought it would open up our creativity if we were forced to write poetry. What monsters teachers can be! But I have been working on my problem over the years. I have attended poetry slams, I've enjoyed reading poetry,  and even written a few very bad poems myself.   But I felt myself backsliding this morning.

I haven't included all the veerses of this poem. I'm sure that any interested person that probably log onto the NWA Times website and read the rest of the poem for themselves.

So Dan stpped into politics.

Taking on those in control.

He challenged their direction

Saying, "This won't make us whole"

There's just too much division here

among our citizens.

The environment is suffering

and the budget's getting thin.

The town keeps spending money

Because we keep on getting sued

By folks that see right through the veil

And know they're getting screwed.

Why are we spending money on things

that the consituents don't need?

Whose pockets are we padding

With this obnoxious greed?

Oh, wait! I can answer that one - developers. You know, the ones who are reputed to have too close ties with Comrade Coody, perhaps?

I know that he's trying

To do the best he can.

So if I may, I like to say

Stand up for Dan

I haven't included all the verses  of this poem. I'm sort of hoping that someone will request that the Fayetteville Government Channel videotape it, and perhaps begin and end each broadcast day with "Ode to Dan: The Man with a Plan."

rsdrake@nwark.com