(All Photos by Hugh Siegel ©2006)
This
is Donald Green. Poet. For as long as I can remember, he
has been selling his poetry on the streets of Manhattan from a folding
table. He is as much a part of the Upper West Side as Riverside
Park and Columbia University. He was even published in The New York Times. But, for
what appears to be a complex series of events,
he ended up living an unusual -- though highly poetic -- life of
selling his poems to survive.
For some reason, I had never stopped to speak to Mr. Green. But the other day, as I was walking down Broadway, I saw him setting up his table under the marquee of another endangered Upper West Side landmark, the Metro Theater. I was expected somewhere, so I just kept walking. But half a block past him, I paused. I guess with the closing of La Rosita and Murder Ink, I was thinking a lot about the unique institutions of my city and how they were disappearing. I thought that Donald Green might disappear, too, without my ever having spoken to him. So, despite my pending appointment, I turned and went back to his table, and, as though I were ordering a hot dog, I said, "I'd like a poem please."
I ended up spending more than an hour there, talking with him and learning about his life and work. Toward the end of our conversation, I asked if I could take his photograph. I thought he would stand for one or two shots, but he proceeded to pose for me for about 15 minutes.
Mr. Green has a manuscript he is hoping to publish. He said that he hoped one or more of the photos would serve for his author photo on the book.
If you're interested in learning more about Donald Green, you can hear him reading his poetry here at web site called Drunken Boat.
And if you find yourself strolling along Broadway and see Donald Green selling his poems, please stop for a moment and be a patron of the arts.
For some reason, I had never stopped to speak to Mr. Green. But the other day, as I was walking down Broadway, I saw him setting up his table under the marquee of another endangered Upper West Side landmark, the Metro Theater. I was expected somewhere, so I just kept walking. But half a block past him, I paused. I guess with the closing of La Rosita and Murder Ink, I was thinking a lot about the unique institutions of my city and how they were disappearing. I thought that Donald Green might disappear, too, without my ever having spoken to him. So, despite my pending appointment, I turned and went back to his table, and, as though I were ordering a hot dog, I said, "I'd like a poem please."
I ended up spending more than an hour there, talking with him and learning about his life and work. Toward the end of our conversation, I asked if I could take his photograph. I thought he would stand for one or two shots, but he proceeded to pose for me for about 15 minutes.
Mr. Green has a manuscript he is hoping to publish. He said that he hoped one or more of the photos would serve for his author photo on the book.
If you're interested in learning more about Donald Green, you can hear him reading his poetry here at web site called Drunken Boat.
And if you find yourself strolling along Broadway and see Donald Green selling his poems, please stop for a moment and be a patron of the arts.
