Dream Quest One Third Poetry Prize Winner -
Summer 2016
is
NICK SWEET
of
Shepherd, Texas - USA
"Blast from the Past"
I miss those jocks of yesteryear, those wonderful deejays
Who
energized the airwaves in so many ways
A pack of P.M. poets, sultans of the squib
Their
frenzied flow of live jive, rhythmical and glib
Back then my small transistor was friendly broadcast balm
For
adolescent acne and always sweaty palms,
Whenever my life seemed like hell, I turned the dial toward heaven
And
tuned in to Wild Willy on one-o-six-point seven
This is Wild Willy, king of the kilocycles, conveyor of country classics
'bout
Tear-stained pillows and armadillos, buckin' broncs and honky tonks,
Rowdy
guys, unfaithful wives and heavy hearts hurtin' in 4/4 time
The moment that the ads came on, I'd twist the dial once more
To
seek out Alexander Heat on Smokin' 94
It's Alex Heat in the driver's seat, I got stacks of wax,
platters
that matter, a smatter of chatter and patter that flatters,
Let's start in the golden grooveyard, it's old dust, but
it's gold dust,
A stroll in the rain down memory lane
Sometimes
close to 2 a.m. before the station knocks off
I'd locate Late Night Larry, the jock who rocks your socks off
ARE YOU READY for some white hot, sock hop, flip flop,
non-stop be bop?
ARE YOU READY for
the low down, new found, high ground
uptown boss sound?
ARE YOU READY for
the slip slide, flip side, joyride, lost tribe,
cool vibes?
I
was always ready, and I had always known
With Larry and his colleagues on that I was not alone
Even
on the bleakest nights of lonely teenage angst
I truly owed my "on-air" friends a debt of blessed thanks
If
I'd battled with my parents, or if my heart was broken
I'd call them at the station; their lines were always open
~By Nick Sweet
# # #
About the poet:
Nick Sweet has been a freelance stage director since 1977. He has directed
over 135 productions for theatre groups in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Alaska and directed the outdoor historical drama,
Trail of Tears, at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
He has written two children's plays: Fable of the Rock and My Stupid
Cat Named Max, published by Eldridge Plays and Musicals of Tallahassee, Florida, and six historical dramas including In Our
Own Words (the Oklahoma School for the Deaf Centennial). He was named Senior Poet Laureate of Oklahoma in 2010 and of Texas
in 2013 by the Angels Without Wings Foundation. His poetry has appeared in the Rockhurst Review, Trajectory, California Quarterly,
Nostalgia Press' Heart Poetry Journal and the Oklahoma Centennial Heritage Collection. Recently, he co-wrote a musical,
Nanyehi - Beloved Woman of the Cherokee, with Nashville singer/songwriter, Becky Hobbs ("Angels Among Us" "Jones
on the Jukebox"), who composed the score.
He is married to Peggy Sweet, a hospice RN. He has a daughter, Caroline,
and 2 grandsons, Silas and Emil.
