Roy McBride, 1943-2011 / photo by Media Mike Hazard

Poet, teacher, spoken-word artist and community activist Roy McBride, who died recently, will be remembered and feted by fellow writers and artists at a gatheinrg in Minneapolis.

The tribute is from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at the Heart of the Beast Theater at 1500 E. Lake Street.

Among poets and musicians slated to perform at the event are Jeannie Piekos, Susu Jeffrey, J Otis Powell!, Maureen Skelly, Douglas Ewart, Mike Hazard, Kevin O'Rourke, Lyle Daggett, Ollie McNutt, Bluebelle the Vith, Tim Young, Mike Finley, Lydia Howell, Diego Vazquez Jr., Margaret Hasse, Jim Dochniak, David Rich, Shá Cage, e.g.bailey, Louis Alemayehu, Laurie Witzkowski and more.

Call 612-721-2535 for more information.

Below is a short poem by McBride.

POETRY

My grandfather,
who can neither
read nor write,
wears a pen-
and-pencil set
in the pocket
of his Sunday coat.

One night
when I was
in the fourth grade,
he watched me
do my homework,
rocking in his chair
by the stove.
"Son," he said
with a smile,
"you've really
got a nice hand,
a real nice hand."

Roy McBride