Chicago poet J.J. Jameson, a twenty year resident described as being devoted to his local Unitarian church, has surprised the pants off of everyone by in fact being twice convicted murderer Norman Porter. Porter has been on the lam since escaping from a Massachusetts maximum security prison back in 1985.

This past December, Jameson/Porter had been named poet of the month by the prestigious ChicagoPoetry web site, which is currently searching for fresh poets to address the loss of JJJ from the prosaic community.

Attention Chicago Poets. The fate of this little ghost town called poetry is at stake. I must now deputize seven poets. These seven will embark on a journey into the most mountainous regions of the soul. Armed with their words, they will hunt down the notorious outlaw allies of Yog Monster From Space and protect our women from the wretched clutches of that six-gun slingin' Dr. Goodverse.

CBS Channel 2 in Chicago has more on the surprised reaction among Chicago poets.

Marc Kelly Smith said he knew Porter from his poetry readings at the Green Mill, a well-known Chicago jazz club.

"He's kind of an eccentric guy... a really out-there cat," Smith said. "He always gave me the impression he was an old anarchist from the '60s."

Paidock, who was working on a play with Porter, said he never saw anything in his friend to suggest a violent past.

"This is absolutely a complete and total shock," he said.

Isn't that always the case?

Police spokesman Tom Ryan would not explain how they were able to track Porter down, although there have been suggestions that someone outside of the Chicago poetry community may have actually read one of his works, such as this short poem entitled "I'm Glad I Killed You, John Pigott".

I want to stab you stab you
             stab you
Ouch, you cry, you're killing me
Damn right, I heartily agree
   While pumping harder
       With my good knife hand
Your clothing store in Saugus does not have my size of pants