The Vagabond Poet has died
Tony Seldin, also known as the Vagabond Poet, died Sunday morning after a long battle with colon cancer and other challenges. The Vietnam Veteran was once a familiar figure in Bellingham (a Washington college town) and especially in the south side Fairhaven district. He was also a major presence in the San Francisco scene and in Seattle.
Ken Kesey called Seldin "the last living underground legend in America." Seldin was a traveler and American poet. His first book, Alone With The Wind, was published by Fairhaven Press in Bellingham, WA.
Tony Seldin was also an activist and organizer of many Tributes to Jack Kerouac in the early 1980's, he created the 100 Poets for Amnesty International in Seattle in 1982, The 20th anniversary of the Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1987 and many more events and benefits.
He was closely associated with Big Brother and the Holding Company and Moby Grape. Tony's favorite poets were Walt Whitman, Vachel Lindsey, Pablo Neruda and Garcia Lorca.
Tony was a kind and gentle man. He was very supportive of blues musicians and artists of all sorts. Drivers who stopped to pick up this intelligent hitch hiker on his travels were truly blessed.
The Vagabond Poet has departed on another adventure.
Photo of the Vagabond Poet courtesy of Richard Estes, poet and hypnotherapist.
You can visit Richard's website at www.richardestes.info/poetry.html
TONY SELDIN POEMS
You can read some of Tony Seldin's poetry by clicking on the links below.
www.bestofsanfrancisco.net/seldinshamanpoem.htm
or
www.bestofsanfrancisco.net/tonyseldin.htm
