We will read and discuss poems by legendary beat poet Bob Kaufman, whose poems zing with lines that read like music. City Lights editor Lawrence Ferlinghetti descrbed Kaufman as, "An original voice. No one else talked like him. No one else wrote poetry like him." Kaufman was influenced by the poets, artists, and musicians of the past as well as the ones he traveled with. Together, we’ll explore how his work bridges the gap between past and present, creating a unique voice that continues to resonate today.

Bob Kaufman (1925–1986) was a key African American Beat poet known for his jazz-influenced, surrealist poetry and his role in the San Francisco literary scene. With a mixed heritage—African American and German Jewish—Kaufman explored themes of marginalization, mysticism, and political activism in his work, often influenced by jazz rhythms. There are also traces of Jewish mystical thought in his poetry. A pivotal figure in the Beat movement, he used his art to critique racism, militarism, and social conformity, and his legacy continues to inspire poets, musicians, and activists today.

Tova Gannana is a poet in Boston.