Ay, ay, ay, that the slave was my grandfather
is my sadness, is my sadness.

And yet you will weep and know why.

I am sick of the spirit of Lindbergh over everything, / Gerald Stern

San Francisco hosts Five Local Poets
Café Que Tal, 1005 Guerrero St.

I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o’ mine, O mother o’ mine!

Santosh Kalwar is a poet, writer and researcher. He is a self-published Nepalese writer who writes in English about truth, love and relationships

Laura Silvia Battaglia is a journalist, author and documentary maker. She is the co-producer with Matteo Scanni and Armando Trivellini of the documentary Maria Grazia Cutuli

Upon naked skin I write.
Upon the ardent expanse
which covers me
and accompanies me
throughout life’s journeys.

Long time ago I was only a seed
growing up in a far land
thinking I will root there forever.

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.