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Tag: Haight Street

Collect a Poet

To collect a poet, go to art openings.  Stand among the artists and sooner or later a poet emerges.  You’ll know them when they recite lines from their favorite poets and talk about readings that they have been to, even if that happened ten years ago.

Or go shopping in the Haight.  There are poets everywhere.  Some are performing (it’s their day job).  Some go to the Goodwill for bargains.  They block traffic on the street when they run into each other, rave about salons and people they know and the laborFest and what-not.

Poets like to be collected.  They like to jump into the net with other poets.  After all they are lovers of words.  Bring a few home.  See if you like them.

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Haight Street Blues

Don Eli

Don Eli had a gentle voice.  When he read his poems sometimes we couldn’t hear him.  Then Don disappeared from the scene.  I bumped into him many months later standing on Haight Street talking to some passer-by.  He had taken to the street, reciting poems by request for money.  His voice had become strong and loud and his gestures expansive.  I was amazed at his transformation.  He had since been a fixture on Haight Street for many years.

Being a street poet Don had to overcome many obstacles.  Solicitation had to be understated and fun so people wouldn’t get scared or intimidated.  He learned to project his voice and be theatrical so his patrons got their money’s worth.  But the biggest problem for Don was the street gangs.  They didn’t like him and wanted him out.  Don persisted, until recently, when during an evening a group of men gathered half a block away from him with looks to kill.  Don had no intention to get beaten up so he fled and that was the end of his street gig.

Don is back at the Sacred Grounds.  When he reads the room is too small for him.

Photo by Travis Snelling.

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