Poem: Street Spirits (for Marvin X)

Street Spirits (Poem for Marvin X)



under a red sky

you have roamed

the streets of San Francisco

rapping about homeless blues

in your poetry

in your life

in your spirit



under a red sky

i saw you

once selling the Poetry Flash

to rich tourists and wondered

whether you would become

the next Bob Kaufman



under a red sky

you have roamed the beaches

of the Golden State
praying here and there

remembering your sweet Sherley

confessing your sins and mistakes



under a red sky

you have remembered

that a poet is full

of great feelings

of love

for God

for self

for others

whether the poet

is homeless

or not



under a red sky

you have helped me

to embrace

the street spirits

and the rays

of a red sun

with your poetry

with your life

with your spirit.



by J. Vern Cromarte