Allen Ginsberg - Howl and other Poems - Poetry

WARNING - THIS MATERIAL IS DEFINITELY NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OR THOSE OF TENDER SENSIBILITIES.

IT IS, HOWEVER, THE SEMINAL WORK OF BEAT POETRY AND ONE OF THE GREATEST WORKS OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.

There is an excellent discussion of the poem , its allusions, its structure and its content at Wikipedia.
There is a copy of the title poem at http://www.wussu.com/poems/agh.htm

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,
dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,

On a personal note, i was first introduce to this wok in 1963-64 in an Advanced placement English class in high school. Parents were outraged that we were reading SMUT. I'm proud to say that my father was one of the few who defended the choice of the work. (He diod, however, draw the line at Naked Lunch.)

Replies

Riklaa October 12, 2010 at 4:04pm

Thank You Bob, I am happy to be reacquainted with this material. It was a favorite in my Youth also. ---------------- Rick
- Anson (Bob) Roberts > Riklaa October 12, 2010 at 4:20pm
  
  I was lucky enough to hear Ginsberg live several times at The City Lights Bookstore, in Golden Gate Park and in NY at some club in the Village.
- Bob Cassady > Anson (Bob) Roberts October 12, 2010 at 4:52pm
  
  You and Rick, from my pov, walk among the literary gods. I think that all lovers of poetry and prose should have this work in their collection. Passing through this life without stopping at the doors of Mr. Ginsburg and Mr. Rimbaud is not a complete life. Like driving through Arizona and missing the Canyon. And what is there to say to a guy who has been to mecca? City Lights and The Strand are all but unattainable dreams for us, your loyal followers. You take us there! I sit here with a 20 year old bottle of Ballantine’s and would gladly break the seal and pour you both a sip of your equal. The best of two worlds you are.
  Thank you again
  CB
- Anson (Bob) Roberts > Bob Cassady October 12, 2010 at 5:48pm
  
  I'm a Glenfiddich man myself, but i would gladly sip your Ballantine's!
  
  The Strand and City Lights are like second homes to me. With apologies to Borges, I imagine heaven will be a sort of bookstore.
Anson (Bob) Roberts October 12, 2010 at 2:47pm

Next three
Howl and Other Poems - 04 - Transcription of Organ Music.mp3

Howl and Other Poems - 05 - America.mp3

Howl and Other Poems - 06 - In Back of the Real.mp3
- Anson (Bob) Roberts > Anson (Bob) Roberts October 12, 2010 at 2:48pm
  
  Next three
  Howl and Other Poems - 07 - Strange New Cottage in Berkeley.mp3
  
  Howl and Other Poems - 08 - Europe! Europe!.mp3
  
  Howl and Other Poems - 09 - Kaddish (Part 1).mp3
- Anson (Bob) Roberts > Anson (Bob) Roberts October 12, 2010 at 2:50pm
  
  Ad, finally,
  
  I walked on the banks of the tincan banana dock and
  sat down under the huge shade of a Southern
  Pacific locomotive to look at the sunset over the
  box house hills and cry.
  Howl and Other Poems - 10 - The Sunflower Sutra.mp3

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