Golden Gate Of Writing Opportunities

Igniting Creative Spark In Authors And Poets Globally

As a wide-eyed 11 year-old-girl I found myself captivated by a woman I only knew from some old tattered and stained Overland Monthly magazines my Grama Daisy had stashed in her beat-up Cedar chest. Little did I know then, that her words would leave a lifelong indelible mark on my soul.

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I would unravel the extraordinary inspiring tapestry of her life. The many truths of her still lasting legacy and that of her friends are a wild ride filled with mysteries and innuendos. I could regale you with an epic (and far too wordy) saga of Ina Donna Coolbrith. I could write you a pretty good poem. Some say that’s how I TMI roll.

Maybe that would ignite some of you to see what I see and light a wildfire under your reader and author spirits — but today I won’t. The truth is I think it’s her voice that I hear and read almost daily here on this platform. It’s what I hear in your stories, articles, and poems. That’s what I want you to remember at the end of this post.

Instead, let me share in the end with you the resounding chorus of Ina and her many illustrious author pals — the ones I feel are all shouting and whispering in our dream filled ear worms in unison — “Listen up, readers and writers! You are on the cusp of the Golden Gate entry into a world of online writing and reading opportunities, heed our call!”

From Market Street, Ina’s old stomping grounds can be an quite an adventure to get to, much like her life story. There are many ways to get there. I could take you there by history, by poetry, by the words of some of her admirers. Then, there are the landmarks dedicated to her memory. All of that is way too lengthy of a journey. It would take too many back roads for the attention spans of today.

Depending upon how you choose to get there, your options are open, similar to the mind boggling topics you write or read about here. Hop on a taxi, you’ll be zipping through the streets like a speed demon on a red-bull fueled 4 minute ride. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Get on the bus, brace yourself for a 15 minute roller-coaster of stops and starts in unpredictable traffic.

Or do the tourist thing and take a cable car for the scenic view and heart-stopping incline. But if your shoes are comfy, a leisurely pigeon dodging, character bumping into, and grab-a-snack trek of about 40 minutes is the right path for the more fitter of you. Of course, for the same amount of time you could take a tram, that’s a script for knuckle hanging onto your seat, with more twists and turns found in San Fran streets.

I personally vote for not buckling up, holding on for dear life tight, or other traveling adventures. After all, we are a global community and let’s all admit it — traveling this world ain’t the fun or as inexpensive as it used to be.

Instead, let’s start with her own words, so relevant to today’s wildfire chaos. It’s been some 117 years from her time back when people were also struggling, rebuilding their lives literally from the ashes. Not too unlike today’s headlines and what other traumas the climate change future holds for us all. Her’s was a very complex human story, and this is above all a time for human stories right here, right now!

Backstory Historical Note

“In 1906, Ina Donna Coolbrith was one of the survivors of the Great Earthquake and Fire. A time when an estimated 3,000 plus (some estimate 6,000) people lost their lives as San Francisco burned nearly to the ground in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. 80% of the buildings were destroyed. 300,000 people were suddenly homeless. Rebuilding San Francisco took many years. The costs were beyond comprehension and calculation.

Ina Donna Coolbrith, then 64 years old, lost everything she’d ever had. For those of you who aren’t familiar with her, she was California’s first poet laureate and the first poet laureate in the country.

Her personal library contained over 3,000 rare and invaluable editions, often inscribed by the authors; original paintings by William Keith; a life time of personal letters and photos from and with (Mark Twin; Brete Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ambrose Bierce, Joaquin Miller, Jack London, Isadora Duncan, Gertrude Atherton and so many others); and most tragically a nearly complete manuscript of not only her life, but also the history of California’s art community.

She escaped with only her cat, a scrapbook, and a few letters. Her house burned to the ground with everything in it. Then, she and her family were homeless like so many others.

Despite her many losses she did her best to rebuild her life, with the help of many friends and supporters. She continued to write and publish. She was a tireless advocate for others, especially women. She never gave up despite poor health, poverty, and adversity. To the end of her life, she was an inspiration and champion of many well-known and widely read writers and poets.

Here’s what she wrote about San Francisco’s in her grief seeing the ashes of destruction.

San Francisco, April, 1906 by: Ina Coolbrith

In end day, a child, I trod thy sands The sands unbuilded, rank with brush and briar And blossom-chased the sea-foam on thy strands, Young city of my love and of my desire.

I saw thy barren hills against the skies, I saw them topped with minatret and spire, On plain, and slope thy myriad walls arise, Fair city of my love and my desire.

With the Orient touched heart and hands, The world’s rich argosies lay at thy feet, Queen of the fairest land of all the lands, Our Sunset-Glory, proud, and strong and sweet.

I saw thee in thy anguish, tortured, prone Rent with earth-throes, garmented in fire, Each would upon thy breast upon my own, Sad city of my love and my desire.

Gray wind-blown ashes, broken, toppling wall And ruined hearth — are these thy funeral pyre? Black desolation, covering as a pall — Is this the end, my love and my desire?

Nay strong, undaunted, thoughtless of despair, Thy will that builded thee shall build again, And all thy broken promise spring more fair, Thou mighty mother as mighty men.

Thou wilt arise invincible, supreme. The earth to voice thy glory never tire, And song, unborn, shall chant no nobler theme, Proud city of my love and my desire.

But I shall see thee as ever as of old, Thy wraith of pearl, wall minaret and spire, Framed in the mists that veil Gate of Gold, Lost city of my love and my desire. — Ina Coolbrith

What Does The Life Story Of The Great Earthquake and Fire in 1906 San Francisco and Ina Coolbrith’s And Her Friend’s Stories Say To Writers And Readers?

So the way I see it — If you know the backstory that began headquartered in San Francisco, a time when writers and poets banned together to write their best, inspired not only their readers, but also each other. . . They were a unique community who championed, helped, and thoughtfully engaged to the benefit of all. They rose from the ashes of all of their troubles.

Like all of us today, they were people who lived real lives with real life problems. They never gave up. They dared to dream. They dared to make a difference and cared about the quality of what they wrote. They endured great sorrows, including wildfires, earthquakes, and poverty. From the depths of their struggles, they rose from the ashes an gave us their best.

So when I recently listened to the goals of this platform and their vision for those of us who both write and read — I think what we have here are all kinds of opportunities to make this platform a place where people can spread quality knowledge, inspiration, entertainment, and so much more.

To me the best part about it, is unlike other sites, is the lack of the distractions without all the pop up ads. We are on the cusp of what I believe is a breath of fresh air in the online chaotic mind numbing negative feeds. A refuge of hope. Not too unlike what Ina and her author friends did, except that today we are global.

My heart goes out to all of those now dealing with the horrific losses in Maui and so many other places. It’s time to ignite and shine a spotlight on the fire of inspiration, knowledge, encouragement, kindness, and humor. We’ve already got that here. There are so many good writers just waiting for each of us to hear their voices. Lend your unique writing voices! Can’t wait to read what some of you are writing next! — Jerilee Wei © 2023