Bernal Litterati [sic]: SF's longest-running prize-giving poetry gig

San Francisco authors read from their work. That means you, too.
San Francisco located stories given preference.
Mic-less open-mic.

Loose-leaf authors
scat
ter
words in
the wind sha
dow
of a library

This week Dalck Teblehei reads his $200 prize-winning short story, Um Doesn't Stammer.

$20 prize for the best Real Estate-centric poem!!

HERE'S A PAST WINNER:


Welcome to forests burning

Even here where the morning sticks
To one's skin in moist, California
Coastal fog, cool enough you think
"Maybe zip-off pants would have
been a good idea till Noon,"
The locusts have arrived.

On the other hand,
Apricots in plenty, and
Plums too, and peaches,
Oranges, pears, and apples
From the backyard trees where
Once Santa Clara orchards
Slaked fruity desires,
And where, for long
Generations no one
But Ohlone can recount,
Acorns, fish, and clams sufficed.


AND HERE'S ANOTHER

There are murals around town painted by XXXXX YYYY,
The faces of public places,
Such as, for instance, the Bernal Branch library's eastern wall.

It strikes me, though, that in Women's History Month
Women muralists ought to get half the space, don't you think?
Every year we ought to put the vertical places up for auction
So that who does the talkin' isn't just who got there first.

Yeah, let the boys pay the girls not to put up stuff if
The boys want to keep that public view shed theirs.
I mean, if the girls like the stuff already there,
Don't bid for the space. Let it ride.

But humdinger, if Benioff wants to shout to the world
With that great big Omphallo thing, but some gal with a brush
And a can of paint has something to say,
I say, make him have to pay her not to splash her story in the air.
It's our sky, isn't it?
Well isn't it?

AND NOW, THE MUSEABLE FEAST:
There's a complementary/complimentary full-on meal after the open mic. Join us!
For more event information: info [at] TheCommonsSF.org