Phantom Attacks Cookeville, TN: Jeffery D. McCaleb
15 April, 2010
During Phantom Billsticker's Poem Poster run in 2009, Jim Wilson was generous enough to send me some of the posters of my poem that were plastered across NZ in June and in parts of Tennessee later.
The local University in Cookeville, TN had a bit of an issue with dorming during the Fall 2009 semester & had to house some 90 or so students at a few local hotels, one of which I am employed as a part-time desk clerk.
I was zealous about Phantom's project and didn't hesitate to tell anyone about my meager achievement; words across the oceans & newspaper features “above the fold” - these sort of events are special in these small parts.
One evening while speaking with Jerry Onwu, the Hall Director for the off-property students, I was telling him as humbly as possible of my recent poetic recognition. He was gleefully interested and wanted an autographed copy of my poster poem, in case I made the big time some day. “Remember us little folk” he said with his super grin.
Towards the end of the semester, I heard from another desk clerk that Jerry had taped my poem up in his off-campus room window, facing out for all the passersby to see. Apparently it had been there all semester long. Well, this was a Christmas break treat that I simply had to see for myself.
Jerry wandered into the lobby later that night, doing his typical end-of-the-semester check of occupation and lingering, lazy students. He verified the story of the other desk clerk that I simply am a bit skeptical of, and we sauntered up to his room - his home away from home for the semester of Fall 2009. Sure enough, there was a poster poem of “A Moment in the Morning”, taped to the window just as was told a few days earlier by the aforementioned desk clerk of skepticism. I couldn't resist. I simply had to have a picture.
I wondered at the time whether it was just a snapshot to keep for ego-stroking and storytelling in my elder rockin' chair days; “Oh, I remember that time when one of my poems was stretched across the world, boy. You might not think it's a big deal, but let me tell ya what... that was something in this town back then.” Now that Phantom is doing another big poster poem run, I know a little bit more about why I took that snapshot on a cold December night at the end of 2009.
Jeffery D. McCaleb
04/11/2010
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I was inclined to tell the Jim Wilson story to a fellow juicer recently, This guy is an inspiring character and I see his inpirees all over the place. That he is returning to NZ is a great benefit to the nation.
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