Poems & Prose on San Francisco’s Slow Streets~Where is Vancouver’s?

Jeffrey Tumlin is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Municipal  Transportation Agency. He was the person that alerted us to this trend on San Francisco’s Slow Streets that are inspirational and readable. Poets have installed cards of prose and inspiration on the closure barriers along San Francisco’s Slow Streets.

It is such a great idea and we have many talented writers and poets in Vancouver. So when will we see our own prose on Slow Streets?

The one illustrated above reads

“Yield Traffic’s dull roar to lively air for Stellar’s Jay
Perched on a flagpole, rekindled phoenix of civic pride.
Do not drive through, bright birdsong blocks the way.”

And another poet and artist, Mc Allen  @that_mac has produced municipal poems, including the Villanelle for Slow Streets below.

Villanelle for Slow Streets

“Do Not Drive Through, This Poem’s In The Way”

Villanelle for Slow Streets

Do not drive through, this poem’s in the way
let pavements pace be measured by your stride–
walk in the road, carry this poem through the day.

The sand dunes rewrote highway into walkway;
your footprints write new stanzas by the curbside.

Do not drive through, this poem’s in the way.
Fear-free, slow signs turn a page over freeway
and children pedal independence, their first ride–
bike in the road, carry this poem through the day.

Yield traffic’s dull roar to lively air for a Steller’s Jay
perched on a flagpole, rekindled phoenix of civic pride.

Do not drive through, bright birdsong blocks the way.
A stage is set between the curbstones for ballet
musicians jam from stoops while skaters glide–
waltz in the road, carry this poem through the day.

Reclaim the streets for people, impede the speedway
no fuel to burn, but check your shoes are tied!

Do not drive through, this poem’s in the way
walk in the road, carry this poem through the day.”

You can read all of Mc Allen’s muni poems here, including “Hooray for the Buses” and “Boat Trams”.