Profoundly silent Bob Kaufman Alley is named for the legendary Black Jewish Buddhist spoken-word jazz poet, co-founder of legendary Beatitudes magazine. Frequently jailed for civil rights protests and "resisting arrest" in rhyme, Kaufman was never at a loss for words – until Kennedy's assassination, when he took a vow of silence that lasted 12 years, until the Vietnam War ended. Duck into this quiet, hidden alleyway (off Grant Ave near Filbert St) to honor him with a moment of silent reflection.
Kaufman’s life was hardly pure poetry: he was a teenage runaway, periodically homeless, occasionally jailed for picking fights in poetry with police, battled methamphetamine addiction with varying success, and once claimed his goal was to be forgotten. This alleyway in his honor may be thwarting that goal – but on this street, SF's original street-corner prophet will always have the last word.
