> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Damned is the man who abandons himself: the remarkable story of a homeless poet
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/damned-is-man-who-abandons-himself-remarkable-story-of-homeless-poet/
- Published: 2014-05-19T08:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:04:42.000Z
- Description: Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho lived and wrote for decades on a roadway median he called "The Island" in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is his story (video, 4 minutes).
- Author: Michael Edwards
- Tags: Cultural politics, #Migrated, Latin America, Transforming Society, culture, openSecurity, Transforming Ourselves, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 16:53

Though his material circumstances were dire, Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho wrote each day with diligence and passion, signing his poems as “The Conditioned.” His dream was to share his work with the world, but he lived fundamentally disconnected from other people. Or did he?

This short film speaks to the human bonds that exist everywhere, and the inspiring changes that can take place when we recognize and build on what we share in common.

Video from [KarmaTube](http://www.karmatube.org/?ref=opendemocracy.net)

To visit the Facebook page set up for Raimundo by ​Shalla Monteiro, [click here](http://on.fb.me/1lwyZRi?ref=opendemocracy.net).

Writing has always been an important expressive outlet for marginalized people. You can sample the work of more homeless poets [here](http://bit.ly/1gdDicm?ref=opendemocracy.net).

The work of homeless poets and storytellers is published in many cities in "[street sheets](http://bit.ly/1gdYf6R?ref=opendemocracy.net)", simple tabloid gazettes distributed by the homeless themselves.

This video originally appeared on [Karmatube](http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=4895&ref=opendemocracy.net) and is reproduced here with permission.