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All That's Left (San Francisco Poet Laureate Series)

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The fourth volume in the San Francisco Poet Laureate Series, All That's Left is a collection of poems calling for social justice. Written by street poet, translator, and activist Jack Hirschman, All That's Left begins with his autobiographical inaugural address, includes several of his earlier poems that benchmark the stages of his development, as well as works composed during his time as laureate. Hirschman also pays his respects to passed on fellow poets such as Kerouac and Bob Kaufman, in this direct, honest, and eye-opening anthology. "The Ways of Love Arcane": 'Only in its being gone does it exist,' / I whispered in the candle-lit dark. // Your response was the art of loving / which is a part of what I meant. // And it was a masterpiece you wrote / with your tongue. // But is Love gone? That love, yes, has. / But there's no end of loving here // or wherever you are, or even where / nowhere is.

Hirshman is a PhD academic dropout. He lost his job at UCLA for trying to help students avoid the draft during the Vietnam war. I am impressed by all the service this poet has given to feeding and helping the homeless, plus other good cause work in the San Francisco area. This poet walks the talk, and from my point of view should be forgiven a few excesses, such as his unbounded admiration for Fidel Castro. ALL THAT'S LEFT was published by City Lights as part of Hirshman's year as San Francisco's Poet Laureate, and most of the poems in the book were written during that year. My favorite is the poem celebrating Cafe Trieste in old San Francisco as a cultural center for the arts. The poem contains a wonderful list of names.

I have looked at some other Hirschman poems, but the ones in this text particularly stand out. There are great poems about Cafe Trieste, wars in the Middle East, revolutionary days and the perseverance of the human spirit. There are odes to people like Mumia, attempts to get rid of Bush, and a startling incident that occurs on the bus between Hirschman and a young black woman rambling on her cell phone. Sometimes Hirschman is outraged, other times he's spiritually reflective. The poems are also diverse in style.

One of the best things about this little book is the transcription of the speech that Hirschman gave at his inaugural address upon receiving the San Francisco Poet Laureate award. Not only is it a brilliant essay, but it has introduced me to new poets like Roque Dalton. It sort of serves as a guide to revolutionary poets from other countries as Hirschman translated a large amount of poets throughout the years whom he mentions in the essay. I can't remember how many languages he knows, but it's quite a few.

Also, it's published by City Lights Foundation, a part of City Lights, the publisher of Allen Ginsberg's Howl and still owned by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

"...Bob Kaufman
still wrapped in rainbows,

both arms upward,
both palms outward
and on his lips
the montage that began

at Scott Joplin's fingertips
with WB, Dylan, Allen, Joe,
Jack, Hart, John and Federico.
Who would die

for poetry. And did..."

excerpt from "Bob Kaufman"

This is Hirschman at his best. The poems are to the point and with a point. You will not find academic posing or vagueness or lazy lines. Hirschman has a lot to say and he is fearless. He is by far the best American poet alive. This is a good start if you've never read a book by him. Read him and you'll know why UCLA fired him during the Vietnam war and student movement. Read him and you'll know why one of his students at UCLA had the highest respect for him. Student's name? Yes, a fellow by the name of Jim Morrison.

Hirschman is one of America's great writers, stretching his words and thoughts in an almost limitless way (as Whitman did) reaching as deep and as high as he can with every thought, as if each poem will be his last and must be a testament to all things strong and free.