Ding Dong

A Blog Poem

by

Jon Presco

Ding Dong! Ding Ding! There will be no celebration in the emerald city this month. A pall, a dark cloud, an evil spell, was cast upon us by an exclusive witch, an evil witch, a wicked witch – if you will!

Ding Dong! Ding Dong

“Back in December, after Natriana Shorter, who is African-American, won the crown for Miss Oregon, Albert commented on a KEZI news story that, “I know this is going to sound racist and it’s not my intention. But I can’t help but think it’s awfully strange that a woman of color would represent [the] state of Oregon. The state that has one of the smallest amount of minorities of any race compared to other states. And yes, she is very beautiful.”

Sounds WITCHY to me! The reporters at KEZI recognized this old Fairy Tale of evil jealousy!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who’s the fairest of them all?

I tried to stop Krysta Albert from taking over our Eugene Celebration because I knew she was a Republican, and, this celebration was a Liberal Event. We used to have Old Hippies, Old Lawn & Grass Gnomes around, who would nix these attempts to vanquish our Peace &Fun Movement. but, they seem to have been snoozing, or, they are all dead. Hey, wait a minute! I’m an old hippie! And I’m strange? Sure, I’m strange.

You’ve got to pick up every stitch,
You’ve got to pick up every stitch,
Beatniks are out to make it rich,
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch.

Why was I so ineffective? Oh, that’s right, I am being harassed by Alley Valkyrie & Homeless Transients Of Whoville who held ‘Take Over Ken Kesey Square’ events disguised as festive art happenings. This is not what the citizens of Eugene wanted. Kesey productions didn’t want to do the celebration anymore because it was not profitable. Then, here come an Ex-slug Queen, and another Homeless Advocate for the Wiccan Nation, who wanted Kesey Square to be ground zero for their collective spell-casting. Are there any Black Warlocks in Oregon?

The title of my autobiography is ‘Capturing Beauty’. Belle agreed to be my Muse, and is so. In this never ending story, it twas beauty that killed the beast!

“Check your brooms at the door!”

Someone close to Albert should have gotten her to shut her mouth a long time ago. She says this might be taken as “racist” and then proceeds. Even though black people are in the minority in Oregon and Eugene, they are some of the hardest working and most dedicated citizens to the Civic well-being – of all peoples! Five of my neighbors played football for the Oregon Ducks. Kenny Reed has volunteered thousands of hours, as has his wife, Marilyn. Natriana has done volunteer work in several programs aimed at esteeming blacks and young people.

Here are two of my ex-neighbors who just got married. One is black and one is white. Whenever Terrell left town to play in another city, he would knock on my door and say;

“Watch over Sarah while I’m gone!” What an honor! Our Duck came home victorious!

“Natriana Shorter, 25, is from Eugene, Oregon. She is currently a Business Management and Leadership student with hopes of having her own non-profit organization. After winning the Miss Oregon USA crown in November, she made it her goal to help her community and state in the best way possible. She created a program called “Triumph” that helps young people overcome peer-pressure, low self-esteem and encourages them to triumph above adversity. She is implementing this program in schools across the state by giving motivational talks to classes, youth groups and sports teams. She has dedicated her time to serve with The Eugene Education Foundation and the Get SMART Oregon Organization. In her free time, Natriana likes to hike, make snapchat videos and play sports.”

There exist a photo of me at Festival of Eugene, taken by my childhood friend, Marilyn Reed, the President of Inspirational Sounds that sang at Albert’s event. I took a photograph of piano player, Chris Stubbs, and Kathy Vrzak, the Director. She and her husband, Jerry, put on an outstanding African Culture event at the Hult. Marilyn is married to Jazz Artist, Kenny Reed of Stone Cold Jazz.  I have been video taping this choir for years. I have felt their soul since 1988. They should take over our celebration.

If the crown and the glass slipper, fit – wear it! On her FB, we see Natriana holding up her Miss Oregon crown to one of our beautiful waterfalls!

Eric Richardson’s daughter Mtima, got married two days ago. You will find a beautiful photograph of her in her wedding dress, that Marilyn altered. Eric is President of the NAACP. We talked about him speaking in our community room about the hurdles being encountered in a neighborhood that is becoming diverse. If this happens, I am going to invite Terrell and Sarah.

“There used to be an exclusion clause is in The Oregon Bill of Rights had an prohibiting African Americans from being in the state, owning property or making contracts.”

Somebody forgot to tell – THE WITCH!

WHAT OLD WITCH?

THE WICKED WITCH!

Ding Dong! Ding! Dong!

“All’s well, that ends well!”

One more time! What witch?

Ding dong. Ding dong! Long live the Eugene Celebration