OCCUPY SF—poems from the movement Cinco de Mayo celebration at RED POPPY ART HOUSE

 MAY 5, RED POPPY ART HOUSE 2698 Folsom St. @ 23rd San Francisco, CA 94110
415 826-2402
Doors at 7:30 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
cost: $5-$10 sliding scale

The recently released anthology Occupy SF—poems from the movement is a powerfully diverse, intergenerational collection of poetry and art in the bold spirit of the Occupy movement. Unique and inspiring with positive San Francisco flair, the anthology has been receiving rave reviews for its humanistic call for social change. With over 70 poets and artists, including three former San Francisco poet laureates (Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Hirschman, and devorah major), as well as renowned activist poster artists Chuck Sperry, Ron Donovan, and Jon-Paul Bail, the book has powerfully captured the Occupy movement as it evolves and shifts.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo and freedom for all, contributing poets Francisco X. Alarcón, Rafael Jesús González, Neeli Cherkovski, Virginia Barrett (co-editor), Bobby Coleman (co-editor), Dottie Payne, and Gerardo Pacheco will read selected work from the anthology. Joining them will be special musical guest Gerardo Omar Marin on flute. All proceeds from book sales benefit Occupy. www.occupyanthology.com

Comment by Neeli Cherkovski regarding OCCUPY SF—poems from the movement

Bobby and Virginia

I am happy to see this wonderful anthology
of poets. It is so beautifully produced
and speaks to our goodness,
our humanity, not to the shrill side
of protest as much as to the redemption
we find in understanding not just the 'crimes'
of the elite, but of their shortcomings.
This collection gives voice to our connection
with the land and its people.  I am pleased,
in this regard, that my poem on the land
follows my old friend and mentor L.
Ferlinghetti as a keynote for this gathering.

I prefer to think in terms of leading others
to a better sense of themselves,rather than
tearing them to shreds. This was the call
of Martin Luther King, of Nelson Mandala,
and of M .k. Gandhi before them.


much love


Neeli