While mincing down Third Street to AT&T Park to catch some tasty waves, we came across the most darling bouquet of fresh flowers, above, lying on the sidewalk. While trying to steal them, we noticed a piece of paper wrapping the posies, a poem dedicated to the life and work of cherished writer, rumored plagiarist, and Oakland Square namesake, Jack London. Because today, Jan 12, you see, would have been his 132 birthday.

A bit of background: Born in a house on Third Street and Brannan, which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1906, the building that stands there now has a plaque in his honor, hence the flowers. Although London was born here in the city, he was raised in Oakland primarily by an ex-slave, Virginia Prentiss, after his biological mother was too sick to care for him. Then, London went on to write numerous stores about dogs dying in the wild, tales that would cause children in elementary schools across the world to excuse themselves from reading time in order to weep uncontrollably in the boys bathroom stall. Or so we hear.

Flash forward to today, you might find a poem penned in his honor such as the one we found this morning. While it's no "Ode to Tatiana the Tiger" - because, really, what is? - feel free to judge it yourself after the jump.