Each month, the San Francisco Public Library Web site features selected poems reflecting the theme of War and Peace on Our Streets.
To submit a poem or for more information about the project, see our News Release.
Also see: Past Featured Poets | September Web Poems | October Web Poems |
November/December Web Poems
Mechanics Institute/San Francisco Chronicle Poet: Q.R. Hand
q.r.hand'jr: is the author of I Speak to the Poet in Man (Jukebox Press), has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry,
“Drumvoices Review 2000”, “Black Scholar” and “Beatitude.” He says: i was born in bedstuy brooklyn in 1937 raised there and central harlem before going on my own began college in new england
after 3 years of prep school there still haven't finished school luckily i got involved with the northern student movement where my lack of social consciousness was raised to the point of trying to
write about what was happening around and in me worked in poverty program and began writing poetry in mid 60's before moving to california in 1969 lived for a long time in mission district of san francisco
and began involvement with wordWind chorus/we're still performing 20 years later retired from job as counselor in community mental health program(s) a couple of years ago due to health problems presently
living in vallejo at home of life companion&love pam who also works in human services and is an artist in her own right presently working on a collection of poems to be published by bill vartnow of taurean
horn press to be entitled WHOSE REALLY BLUES.
Q.R. Hand recommends:
- “DARWIN'S CHILDREN ” BY GREG BEAR
- “MIGRAINE” BY OLIVER SACKS
- “MINGUS/MINGUS” BY JANET COLEMAN & AL YOUNG
- “THE KARMA OF BROWN FOLK” BY VIJAY PRASHAD
- “FROM TOTEMS TO HIP-HOP” BY ISHMAEL REED
December Featured Poem - each time
by Q.R. Hand
we act as if it's all ways a miracle
how we meet each other
no matter where we are
we meet each other 'cause of other folks we met
some where along that grace full line of folks
who meet and met in strange unlikely places we know are so likely
meeting the folks who've met the folks in new york
and dar es salaam in paris and chicago in bogalusa
and san francisco which are all strange places to find out
you know mary
you know karl
you know juan
you know gail too
all those beautiful
all those fine
all those who spread their love along the line
that stretches through heart beat and heart ache and
keep each other movin' sweetly along the bumps and grinds
we've chosen and the racks that chose us when we wanted
some thing else
some place else
or else
this miracle we welcome more grace fully over the years
never ceases to say to us of course of course
we've known each other for years
each first time
each last time
each time
by q.r.hand jr
