The poetry of the city is visible and invisible
During our seminar, we looked at poetic writings by Larwrence Ferlinghetti, a San Francisco based poet and Luci Tapahonso, a Native American writer of the Dine` Nation of Navajo. In their writings the poetic beauty of the travel story is interwoven in poetry and prose that enraptures their readers in sensate experiences of time, place, and culture.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti's San Franciso Poems, 2001 is a collection of works by the city's award winning Poet Laureate. In his Inaggural Address, given on acceptance of this prestigious honor, Ferlinghetti comments on the radical changes in the city since his arrival years ago. He recounts his travel story.
When I arrived in the City in 1950, I came overland by train and took ferry from the Oakland mole to the Ferry Building. And San Francisco looked like some Mediterranean port-a small white city, with mostly white buildings-a little like Tunis seen from seaward. I thought it was Atlantis risen from the sea. I certainly saw North Beach especially as a poetic place, as poetic as some quarters in Paris, as any place in old Europa, as poetic as any place great poets and painters had found inspiration. 37
He read to his audience his first poem written there and then paused to lament that the city as it looks now resembles a theme park, overrun by tourists. The poetry of the city was gone. He asked his listeners to ponder what it is that happens to destroy the poetry of a city? Once a diverse metropolis that welcomed immigrants and refuges from around the world, the city had evolved into a "homogeneous, wealthy enclave". 38 Ferlinghetti espoused that it is the arts, literary culture and small independent businesses that hold the hope of restoring and sustaining the poetry of the city and thus its livability.
In Blue Horses Rush In, 1997 Luci Tapahonso writes of the strength of the Dine` people that is grounded in family practice, community kinship, stories, songs and prayers that preserve their traditions even when far from the Dine` lands. Luci writes,
For today, allow me to share Ho`zho`, the beauty of all things being right and proper as in songs the Holy Ones gave us. They created the world, instilling stories and lessons so we would know Diyin surrounds us. Our lives were set by precise prayers and stories to ensure balance. Grant me the humor Dine` elders relish so. No matter what, let the Dine` love of jokes, stories, and laughter create some Ho`zho`. Some days, even after great coffee, I need to hear a song to reasure me the dsitance from Dine`tah is not a world away. I know the soft hills, plains, and wind are Diyin also. Yet I plan the next trip when we will say prayers in the dim driveway. 39
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