City Lights Books | behind the truth

“City Lights is a landmark independent bookstore and publisher that specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics.”

City Lights Bookstore is a literary landmark and a magical meeting place for intellectual inquiry. Open until midnight daily since 1953, City Lights is internationally known for its expert selection of books and for its impact on the history of free speech in America with the publication of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl and the subsequent trials. City Lights continues to publish avant-garde work, host regular events and readings, and be a beacon of inspiration for all writers and lovers of the written word.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the primary founder and caretaker of City Lights, turned 100 years old this year and San Francisco celebrated his incredible contribution to both this city and literary culture across the globe. Ferlinghetti is a widely read, published, and cherished poet and activist who continues to create and paint mystical worlds of the imagination.

Inspired by Ferlinghetti and City Lights, I wrote a poem to pay homage to this singular place of multi-faceted truth:

behind the truth

after ‘behind the cape’ by david larsen

behind the truth,

and growing numb,

fear floods

the misled head.

men of power

trick fear from

silence.

from

knowing

something

to

knowing

nothing.

now

the work of

untangling

knots of

misplaced, misused

lies

i start again.  

To find out more about City Lights Books: Website www.citylights.com / Facebook @citylightsbooks / Instagram @citylightsbooks/ Twitter @citylightsbooks