ABSTRACT
The details of Bob Kaufman's life are shrouded by legendswra pped in mysteries. Aside from facts concerning his birth, specific jobs that he held, and his undeniable role as a fixture in San Francisco's poetry scene from the mid-1950s to his death, much remains unknown, and much of what is known is of dubious origin. However, despite what one critic calls the "multiple and conflicting account of Kaufman's genealogy, his life story, and other putatively relevant aspects of his life work" (Damon, 2000), Kaufman's poetry, although not extensive, is sufficient to give readers a sense of a fascinating and complicated human being, not to mention a gifted, if troubled, artist.
