1503 E. Park Ave, Apt. X8 Valdosta, GA 31602-3288 New Year's, 1996
Greetings to everyone; holiday cheer!
Once again it's new year time.
I thought I would be different this year
By setting my annual letter to rhyme.
'95 was a year of great exhilaration;
So many accomplishments I achieved.
First of all was the radio station,
Except for an issue which got me peeved:
In January they tried to censor us.
"Safe Harbor" led to political fights.
First amendment on our side was a plus;
But in the end we lost our rights,
For money gave administration powers.
But that aside, I loved 'VVS.
Every week I spent eight hours
Playing music with joyfulness.
Besides alternative, there was "Route 66,"
The oldies show of which I was co-host.
And from the talk-show I got my kicks
As the producer, if you'll let me boast!
At lunch I took "all-request,"
And each morning I read news on the air.
We organized the MAYHEM music-fest--
Oh, the work and joy we had there!
As temporary news director I was sent
To a conference in Athens with the gang.
Listened and learned, was glad I went,
Especially when Mike Watt sang.
I played on the station softball team,
And made many a friend.
Radio was wonderful, like a dream;
I was sorry when it had to end.
But my studies had to come first,
And I had some good classes this year.
In literature I became immersed;
Took a seminar in Mark Twain's career.
I wrote two papers on Huckleberry Finn,
On its censorship and on its conclusion.
Another paper on Uncle Tom's Cabin
Dealt with moral confusion--
It focused on Augustine St. Clare;
Presenting this orally was the second phase.
And another report on Twain's "War Prayer"
Received the professor's high praise.
Melville's "Bartleby" was another I wrote;
It dealt with responsibility and Christianity.
My work got A's (if you'll let me gloat
And show off a little vanity).
But, by far, the best class I took
Was literature of the Vietnam War.
I was moved by every book;
In class I let out a roar.
Exchanged e-mail with the professor,
In debate I pounced like a lion;
But in contemplation my rage was lesser
As I wrote of Kovic and O'Brien.
Shortly thereafter I was selected
To report for jury duty one day.
Fortunately, from the jury I was rejected--
They couldn't let a free-thinker stay.
I learned that day the system is biased.
There's no such thing as objective truth.
Not even God, in the absolute highest,
Though I once believed so in my youth.
Yet God was not absent altogether.
When my parents joined a new shule,
One Shabbat they had me do the "devar"
(That's the torah lesson). They said it was cool.
Another thing that turned out grand:
My friend Kris and I, one night,
Saw a concert of Dave Matthews Band
Even though, the day before, we had a fight.
Computers this year were all the rage--
I still have e-mail you know.
But now, on the Web, I have my own page
(See my addresses below).
The more time I spend cruising the net,
The more substance I find;
For one day, on-line, I actually met
A girl of the rarest kind.
We dated a week but it just didn't work.
That's where the romance ends.
But something unusual, call it a quirk,
Now we're trying to be friends.
By now you must be wondering, no doubt,
What's the story with my writing.
Earlier this year my muse had gone out,
The creative bug just wasn't biting.
But later things began to get better
When the Odradek published my poem.
Then I met a poet--a real go-getter:
Kit invited me to his home.
I read at coffeehouses to applause
(Can you guess where this is leading?)
I can say I'm moving up because
I was awarded my own poetry reading!
November 14th was the exciting day.
I read for half-an-hour.
Many loved what I had to say;
Gave me a feeling of power.
So now I write more frequently:
Feelings of anguish and elation,
The problem of amorality,
This world of fragmentation.
But next year is a big question mark.
I'll graduate soon with some luck.
The odds of getting a job are stark,
But somehow I'll make a buck.
Experiment's done, now I'm sorry I tried it;
This poem is a failure, God knows.
Too bad I don't have time to re-write it--
Next year I'll return to prose.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! MY BEST WISHES FOR A FULFILLING 1996!
Peace on Earth,
Jonathan Chisdes
jchisdes@grits.valdosta.peachnet.edu
http://www.nightmare.com/~jon/
(912) 245-0780