By Eugene Ford

San Francisco

Homeless people who peddle poetry on the streets of San Francisco have a new, high-tech venue for their verses. Bay area "street poets" can now post their works online and become part of a new Web site devoted to poetry from the itinerant community.

The iPoet site was set up by John Porter (who uses the pen name John Lionheart), a part-time computer programmer.

"IPoet exists to provide street poets and other such bards with an attractive context in which to display their own work to the general public, and to view the work of other artists who deal with life on the road," says Porter. "A lot of these artists get a real boost in confidence when they see what they've done on the Internet."

Porter has archived about a half-dozen poets' works since the site was set up on July 1, 1999. He buys their writings for "whatever they want" and offers to post the piece on the iPoet.

Street poets usually approach Porter -- who often spends time with San Francisco's homeless community -- to get their work on the site. He then posts the compositions in one of a number of different categories, including classic, romantic and rhythmic.

Porter says the poetry of people always on the move is unique, and it deserves to be showcased.

"I think that the idea that itinerants have a special sort of poetic experience is a valid one," he says. He also wants the online poetry to be inspiring to others in similar situations.

Porter asks that the homeless composers keep in touch with him via public library Internet terminals or by phone, although he has yet to hear from any that way.

Porter is a semi-retired building contractor and disaster aid worker by trade, not a social service program creator. Initially he devoted a few hours a week to the Web site as a hobby.

IPoet received nonprofit status in mid-August, and Porter hopes to secure additional funds. He also wants to devote more time to the Web site and develop a more formal approach to soliciting submissions.

Although he wants the Web site to evolve as an interesting and entertaining resource for everyone, Porter says it will always be a place of encouragement for struggling poets.

The homeless poets get a self esteem boost when they see their works beside famous writers who also celebrated the itinerant lifestyle in their writings.

"When a poet out on the street is able to see his work put next to the writings of Jack Kerouac or Whitman, I think it does something to validate his poems, and encourage him to produce more," says Porter.

Comments to Eugene Ford can be sent to
johntm@mindspring.com