{"product_id":"a-drop-of-the-pure-9798899750144","title":"A Drop of the Pure","description":"\u003cp\u003eA few years ago, pre-covid, I met Jon Freeland. It \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efelt, at the time, like the many pleasant interactions I've had \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eover thirty-odd years of being in the bar business. I tend to \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emagnetically attach myself to creative people, regardless of \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe actual discipline.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJon was one of those humans, and remains one \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eof those humans. Again, I come from live music club \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebartending. I also come from the Republic of Ireland, Cork \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCity to be specific, class of '87, Donnelly visa, 12 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI grew up on punk rock, bards, storytellers, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etroubadours, actors, playwrights, musicians, singers, and of \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecourse poets. So a very natural, organic, common goal of \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esimply reading poetry was an easy endeavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe day I met Jon, I immediately called my friend \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand mentor, Allen Tatman. Allen and I are brothers in mouth \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebullets, and tales of yore. I remember specifically reading a \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003edraft of a book Allen had written when I used to work for \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehim and his lovely wife, Marilee, who is also a trusted mentor. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI told him about my chat with Jon and...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBOOM! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContact!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis feels good.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo once a month, on an otherwise lonely and \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esleepy Monday night in the fair city of Jefferson, in the \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egreat stateof Missouri, \"Single Pot Still Poets Society\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ewas birthed. What follows is our club's first attempt at a \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecollective publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI love these people and I want to thank them \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efor our \"monthly sessions.\" Paddy Malone's Irish Pub \u0026amp; \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGumbo Bottoms Alehaus proudly present Volume 1: A \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrop of the Pure\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlainte, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePadrigh Stiofan\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Oac Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51676200272146,"sku":"9798899750144","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_968057d1-25e5-4042-81b4-04356f1fe2a9.jpg?v=1761049190","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-drop-of-the-pure-9798899750144","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}