I know people wind up on blogs through various random searches, so with the possibility that someone will end up here who knows of or has work for a New Orleans writer stranded in Houston by hurricane Katrina --

poet in need in Houston: Kalamu ya Salaam

Here is news and a request from Kalamu, who managed to get out of New Orleans with his family, is safe in Houston but absolutely in need of work -- and he doesn't say it, but donations.

For those who don't know him, Kalamu is responsible for some of the most seminal thinking on the black arts movement and on the continued movement and emergence of trends in poetry.

Here's the message from Kalamu.

excuse the brevity and directness, but the situation is this:

like literally at least a million other folk from new orleans, we are now refugees. we left new orleans early sunday morning under mandatory evacuation. my wife, nia, is an x-ray technician who was on call at the veteran's hospital.

we had planned to be at the hospital, however, other arrangements were made early, early sunday morning because the full emergency plan had not been implemented at the hospital and for some reason her name was not on the list for emergency personnel even though she was on call. so at the last minute rather than staying at the veterans hospital we elected to drive to houston to nia's brother's home. with us were nia's daughter and her two small daughters.

arrived in houston 2:30 am the next morning. it was a long, slow trip. it's wednesday morning. it is clear to me that we won't be back in new orleans anytime soon, and new orleans won't be new orleans anytime the remainder ofthis year. i have ten dollars in my pocket. a $500 check i can't cash because it's drawn on a new orleans bank andwhich i did not receive until after the banks were closed on saturday. maybe $50 in the bank.

if you are in a position to help, i have one request: i need work: speaking engagements, lectures, readings, short term residencies, writing assignments. please contact me via email: kalamu@aol.com or kalamuya@yahoo.com

thank you for your consideration.

a luta continue (the struggle continues),

kalamu