Rob Swales

Ferlinghetti's Challenge Rob Swales

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, was one of the planet's greatest living poets. As well as being the Poet Laureate of San Francisco, Ferlinghetti has operated the City Lights Books since the 1950's. At 95 (b. 1919), and still working, writing, performing, he has had the opportunity to hang out with the likes of Kerouac, Ginsberg and Dylan and inspire young poets (like me) from all around the world. These words are the result of Ferlinghetti's 'Challenges To Young Poets', a poem I happened upon in his City Lights Books in 2008.