The Era Was 2003-2006. 

Teen Angst. 

Unrequited Love. 

Choppy Rhyme Schemes. 

Slightly Misguided Ambitions. 

A Gentle Reminder that Things Don’t Get Easier After Adolescence. 

Why? 

Because… 

J.R Midas would like to take you back to a time before high-speed internet. Getting away from the problems of today and entering into the seemingly laughable crises of yesteryear. Simple straight up no frills poetry that is easy to understand, to connect with, and to dissect. Depression symptoms? Phase?  Immaturity? The delivery attempts to go back to a time long forgotten and speak to the feelings of adolescent convictions- without insulting such an important time period for growth, "inner-conflict-resolution" and life changing moments. Midas uses his past work as the compass for progress, growth, and maturation over the course of 2 decades.

**Like any Artifact, some of the work needs to be patched up here and there.  These poems come gently modified from it's original form. 

1. "Sitting in an Empty Room" 

A moment preserved.  The first page of the old rhyme book. Learning an early harsh lesson about the inequity of heartbreak. "It gets better young Midas." 

-J.R. Midas

"Is it a test or is it a sign?" A life affirming destination for a weary traveler. The challenges of NYC had piled up and all direction had been lost, then Midas met Nola.   A story of rebirth, written in a beautiful room overlooking the New Orleans skyline. Affirmations revealed and bonds forged. A 3 minute sample of a Jon E. Midas walking through the French Quarter titled “Harmonic Sounds of NOLA”. J.R. [Midas] stepped on the plane in New Orleans with an empty bucket and Jon E. Midas returned to the big apple to bring back the gems he picked up from the big easy. 

To be Puerto Rican is a badge of honor that a proud particular can claim.  

People love the beauty, food culture, music, dance, flair and spirit of Puerto Rican traditions. But...we must be kinder to ourselves and each other.  The story for this poem begins Summer 2019 in Carolina, PR, where a bar owner is sitting down with Jon E. Midas asking, "Owner:  Why don't you move here? Jon E: They might not embrace me because "I'm not Puerto Rican enough". Owner: Nah, it's not like that here.  This is your home too.  Jon E: You don't know how much I needed to hear that". Owner: *takes a nasal ski trip*  Although there are many experiences that shape this particular recording, the message is to become the triumph and unity that we know we are deep down inside.

A snapshot of inner-conflict.

Generational implications.

Intersectionality within intersectionality.

Nuyorican pride and the perception of limitation.

 No frills.

All love.

-Jon E. Midas

Walking through the streets of NOLA, testing his new voice recorder and at a crossroads, Jon E. Midas has a little fun with an "Off-the-Top" Poetry Sesh that wasn't planned originally planned to make the collection.  But as the chapter implies, don't rely TOO heavily on plans.

The goal was to work on Chapter 2 but Jon E. Midas (aka J.R. Midas) became sidetracked off-course.  

"A simple poem about love, loss, and growth.  The next direction is forward when things go South."

-Jon E. Midas

The original poem recording has disappeared!  

Or J.R. Midas felt the piece needed a different emphasis and slight tailoring.  Enjoy the Remix.  It takes on a different tone with the original description but the message has not changed :)

The original title of this piece was "No Vaxation Without Representation" or "The Conversation that Creates Social Distance" but that would have sent the wrong message.  This is a poem of optimism and hope and personal choices.  Sometime it's not about being right but about acting right when and where you can. The problem is when your right conflicts with another person's right, then who is right? It is not for me to answer this question, it's just for me to write a poem about the thing that has been in our ears for the last 3 years. Additionally, no matter your stance, let's embrace the hurdles that we have presently jumped over as a species to get to this moment. I act as a mirror reflecting the many personalities of New York City during the time of confusion and over saturation of information.  

Self-discipline and Forgiveness is strength as well.

Post Soundbyte Title: "Decent is Discovery Too"

Jay R. Midas

Episode soundbytes that became a story.  This Outro is a story of soundscapes that have been sprinkled through the entire chapter. Now these sounds get to speak for themselves and send us to our next point in time. For optimal listening, put on a set of noise canceling earphones and give a second listen to this chapter to find the intentional use (or non-use) of sound throughout the story.

Enjoy the final "tale" of Chapter 1.

Jay R. Midas

*Temporary Re-Release!*

The original title of this piece was "No Vaxation Without Representation" or "The Conversation that Creates Social Distance" but that would have sent the wrong message.  This is a poem of optimism, hope and personal choices.  Sometimes it's not about being right but about acting right when and where you can. The problem becomes when your rights conflict with another person's, then who is right? It is not for me to answer this question, it's just for me to write a poem about the thing that has been in our ears for the last 2 years. Additionally, no matter your stance, let's embrace the hurdles that we have presently jumped over as a species to get to this moment. I act as a mirror reflecting the myriad of personalities during the time of confusion and over saturation of information in New York City.  

Self-discipline and Forgiveness are strengths as well.

Post Soundbyte Title: "Decent is Discovery Too"

Original "Poetry Sesh" Cover Art serves as the image for this episode.

Jay R. Midas