Ann Cohen, wife of the late poet Allen Cohen, writes,
“This morning when I woke up my first thought were of Allen Allen Cohen and all of us are part of the world community. Allen, the San Francisco Oracle Staff and All our friends were and are about people working together
Embracing each others differences This brings strength to us, A world community.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLEN WE MISS YOU.”
Cohen, founder and editor of the legendary Oracle of Summer of Love fame, would have been 69 today (4/23/2009). Ann and his friends are meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bocci Cafe in North Beach where Cohen always celebrated his birthday. His friends will sit where he always sat, near the stage. Cohen died April 29, 2004, at the age of 64.
Ann sent along the poem Allen wrote to celebrate his 56th birthday.
On my 56th birthday
It is a warm spring day.
Our pre-school children
are playing barefoot
in the backyard.
Cleo, the Siamese cat,
is chasing squirrels
in the branches of the Ash tree.
Last night at the moment
of my birth 56 years ago
the mocking bird
was calling for its lover.
While driving to San Francisco,
the sky became overcast with grey clouds.
As the sun filters through them
a silvery light illuminates the city
The hills of Marin are
wearing a white fog hat.
We are on our way to meet
the Vagabond Poet at
the Muddy Waters Café.
Later we will meet some friends
for dinner at the Bocce Cafe
As I write this in the car
passing through the streets
in the warehouse district,
there is a quietness in the air.
Few cars are in the streets but
people amble along the sidewalks.
It is still good to be here
in this body creating.
Allen Cohen