SAN FRANCISCO, CA–James Morehead (Poet Laureate of Dublin, California) premiered his new poem “She is San Francisco” on the July 15 episode of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Total SF podcast. Total SF is “A San Francisco culture podcast featuring celebrity guests, non-celebrity guests, personalities from the San Francisco Chronicle and a celebration of Bay Area life. Hosted by culture critic Peter Hartlaub and columnist Heather Knight and recorded on the streets, hilltops, parks and landmarks of San Francisco.” .
She is San Francisco copyright 2022 James C. Morehead premiered on the San Francisco Chronicle Total SF podcast in shades of pink and blue, a painted lady with combat boots and attitude. She wears sweatshirts in summer chilled by salt-soaked fog spilling over evening tides. You might catch a glimpse of her rollerblading across the Golden Gate as you sail beneath suspended steel into Pacific swells. She is portraits in de Young a cable car's clang a skate punk sprayed in neon green who runs from Bay to Breakers or swirls around a rainbow flag on Market Street in June. She is San Francisco—spun with threads of sunset hues and wisps of endless dune.
“This poem was inspired during a recent visit to San Francisco to attend a Billy Collins (former US Poet Laureate) performance at the Sydney Goldstein Theater as part of the City Arts & Lectures series. I was excited to see San Francisco coming back to life after two years of pandemic and while sitting in the audience waiting for Billy to take the stage (photo of my Vans below), I started writing ‘She is San Francisco’,” said James Morehead. “It’s so exciting to share this poem on the SF Chronicle’s Total SF podcast, it’s the perfect home for this poem!”
James Morehead is Poet Laureate of Dublin, California. James has published two collections of poetry: “canvas” and “portraits of red and gray”. James’ poem “tethered” was transformed into an award-winning hand drawn animated short film, “gallery” was set to music for baritone and piano, and his poems have appeared in Beyond Words, Wingless Dreamer, Prometheus Dreaming and Prompt Press. He also hosts the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast which features interviews with poets and artists. “In this second collection of poems, James Morehead’s imagery is vivid, spare and elemental, and it is consistently chosen and arranged to achieve intensely poetic effects. The rhythmic control is impeccable.” – Carmine Di Biase, Distinguished Professor of English, Emeritus – Jacksonville State University
Congratulations! This is a beautiful poem!