Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive

The Japanese word ‘koan’ is a seemingly unanswerable riddle used by practitioners of Zen Buddhism to trigger spiritual enlightenment and understanding. Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive is a vibrant, genre-busting collection of voices, observations and memories that trigger nostalgia of a lost time, lost neighborhood, lost city.

James Cagney masterfully weaves together monologues, documentary-style narratives, and keen observations, offering a profound glimpse into the lives and stories that shape this unique community and beyond. From direct door-to-door salesmen and flirtatious phlebotomists to rotary telephones and an appreciation of clotheslines, each poem serves as a window into the heart of the Bay Area, capturing the raw beauty, struggles, and curious triumphs of its people. Cagney’s words resonate with authenticity and depth, making this collection a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the rich tapestry of urban life.

Ghetto Koans is a journey through the soul of a community, told with unparalleled honesty and grace.