Poetry For The People

from “4th of July Poem”

freedom is out there growing
on the cornfields in Iowa
the orange groves of Florida
and the vineyards in California
freedom ripens in the rays of our poetry
and the shade of our skin

we harvest our freedom daily
fruit
by
fruit

-Haas Mroue

Dear Poets and Friends,

On October 6, 2007, we lost our beloved Haas Mroue to a sudden heart attack. At his passing, Haas was writing and traveling in Beirut, Lebanon. In early December, our beloved’s friends and family hosted a memorial in Haas’ home of Port Townsend, Washington to celebrate him in all his different lights. For those of us who knew him, Haas was many things: a teacher, a glass of red wine, a reassuring voice over the telephone, a poem on the page. Haas’ natural inclination was to travel—to take flight. As a man of many homelands, Haas often came to the Bay Area to teach, read, and write with many of our local poets. The last time Haas flew into Oakland Airport he threw his open arms around the familiar body that greeted him and whispered, “It’s so good to be home.”

So to our friends throughout the Bay Area and California (and beyond) we call out to you to assist
us in celebrating Haas in an evening featuring his poems and our tributes. There is no structured way to mourn, grieve or even rejoice in the glow of a life lived well. Instead we will do what poets do and we
will return to the poetry. We will return, like Haas, home.

Please join us for a reading of selected poetry from Haas Mroue’s Beirut Seizures performed by friends of Haas Mroue and Poetry for the People’s extended family of poets. A video introduction of Haas given by June Jordan will introduce the evening’s activities.

Memorial Poetry Reading for Haas Mroue
Thursday, January 10th
Eastside Arts Alliance
2277-2289 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA
www.eastsideartsalliance.com

Doors open at 7:45pm
Program begins at 8:00pm
Donations at the door are encouraged.

We hope to see all of you there and please feel free to forward this to any and all who were touched by
Haas Mroue’s poetry and life. Feel free to print out the attached flyer for this memorial reading as well as the original obituary from the Port Townsend memorial.