Franklin Sterling began selling Street Sense two years ago, after some other vendors encouraged him to look into the program. Sterling has had three sets of poems published and now is revising those works. He said the publication of these poems in 2008 was one of his proudest moments. People he meets on the street continue to ask him if he will have more poems published in forthcoming issues.
One of Sterling’s favorite aspects of Street Sense is the writers’ group, which is a collection of vendors who meet weekly to learn about poetry techniques and to workshop their own creative writing. “I love to see dedicated vendors creating their own stories and poems,” Sterling said.
In terms of his own writing, Sterling thinks his poetry offers readers a break from more traditional forms. “I want to give people access to the types of poems they might not have access to in the library or bookstore. My poetry offers readers a chance to read poetry that doesn’t adhere to traditional English lexicon.”
In his writings, Sterling likes to mix medieval and modern English poetry. He generally avoids free verse and includes a variety of poetry devices, such as alliteration and internal rhymes. Inspiration for his poems comes from different aspects of life around him, including literature, politics and culture. “Mankind is my inspiration,” he said.
For Sterling, poetry is a source of validation. “It’s a way to say my life is meaningful, and to be recognized,” he said. “It’s a way to show myself as someone of value.”
Looking ahead, Sterling hopes to live in his own place and to continue working on his poetry. In the meantime, he is seeking work and grateful to Street Sense patrons for their support.
“These are harsh times. Customers really help us stay together because they are encouraging and help us to see that we are all human.”
