I am thrilled to announce that my latest poetry film, Welcome to the Tenderloin, is now available for streaming directly on Viewless Wings. Directed by Paul Ghusar and inspired by the complex, resilient history of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, this film is a “cinematic sestina“—a fusion of rigid poetic structure and documentary filmmaking designed to challenge misconceptions about one of the city’s most misunderstood neighborhoods.

The genesis of this project was a visit to the Tenderloin Museum in San Francisco. Located on Eddy Street, the museum is a testament to the neighborhood’s vibrant past—from its days as a jazz and gambling hub to its pivotal role in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

When I visited the Tenderloin Museum, I was struck by the dissonance between the neighborhood’s public perception—often reduced to caricature and grit—and the deep, vibrant history of activism and art that actually defines it. I wanted to write a piece that didn’t shy away from the struggle but also refused to let that be the only story. The museum’s archives provided the narrative backbone, revealing a community that has always been a sanctuary for those on the margins.

To capture this layered history, I chose the sestina, one of the most complex and obsessive forms in the poetic canon. Attributed to the 12th-century troubadour Arnaut Daniel, the sestina consists of 39 lines across six stanzas and a three-line envoi. Instead of rhyme, it relies on the intricate repetition of six end-words in a specific, rotating pattern.

For Welcome to the Tenderloin, the six end-words are: struggle, street, bustling, mosaic, resolve, and they.

The sestina’s form is circular and obsessive; it refuses to let go of its subjects. It felt like the perfect vessel for the Tenderloin. The repetition mirrors the neighborhood’s recurring cycles of booming nightlife, social marginalization, and fierce advocacy. By forcing these six words to return again and again in different contexts—from the flappers of the 1920s to the activists of today—I hoped to weave a tapestry that connects the past to the present.

Filmmaker Paul Ghusar (Director/Editor) brought my text to life by weaving my narration with a striking mix of archival footage and modern cinematography.

Viewers will see the iconic blue neon “Tenderloin” sign set against the sky, black-and-white clips of 1920s burlesque dancers and bustling market streets, and vibrant contemporary shots of the neighborhood’s famous murals. The film creates a visual dialogue between the “music-filled pavilions” of the past and the “aerosol activists” of today.

One of the most powerful moments in the film occurs during the envoi, where members of the community look directly into the lens and repeat the film’s closing command: “Pause and see this community.”

Since its premiere, Welcome to the Tenderloin has been selected for numerous festivals around the globe, resonating with audiences from Detroit to Denmark. We are honored by the reception so far:

• San Francisco International New Concept Film Festival
• San Francisco Underground Short Film Festival
• Mind Mosaic Arts Festival (Maryland)
• Better Cities Film Festival (Detroit)
• Nature & Culture International Film Festival (Denmark)
• East Village New York Film Festival (Finalist)
• Caravan International Film Festival (Honorable Mention, India)
• Folkestone Film Festival (UK)
• THE STORY TELLER UNIVERSE (New York)
• Motion Pictures International Film Festival
• Bay Area and Sacramento Shorts Film Festival (BASH)

This film is a call to look closer—to see the “bustling, unfinished mosaic” that is the Tenderloin. I encourage you to support the Tenderloin Museum and explore the history that inspired this work.

For more about my work and poetry, visit my author profile.