Norse's "Memoirs of a Bastard Angel" is the best of the genre. He lived a truly incredible life, and his involvement with Modernists like Auden and Williams is equally interesting. Thanks for including this poem which I didn't know.
The Universe led me to Ginsberg’s “Howl” when I was just a boy.
I read an excerpt of it in my 7th grade English class, and my friends loved it.
Little did I know how Ginsberg changed the course of my life at that moment.
But I felt it.
Oh, yeah … hair bristling on the back of my neck, invisible wings growing on my shoulders — as the maddest of my pals howled like baby wolves, enjoying our first full moon.
Reading this poem, and others like Ginsberg’s, is like looking at an era that has regrettably passed away along with them. His poem is an ode to a time of vibrant liberalism and freedom in America.
Ginsberg, Kerouac, Norse, etc....That whole lot of beatniks were some of my favorite to read during high school. The way they spoke about one another was something else.
I only saw Ginsberg once ... it was 50+ years ago so, you know, I was a youngster. I lived in Miami and he was speaking at the Miami Marine Stadium, I was a reporter for the Miami News, but just wanted to hear him, I wasn't there to work. There was a long line, and I waited there to see if my name was on the list. It wasn't of course, so I listened as each person checked in to see the routine. When it was my turn, I saw another person's name on the list, read it upside down and claimed "that's me!" -- no ID was required -- and I was in. That was the day I got to hear the amazing Allen Ginsberg speak (and I hope the person whose name I stole claimed their identity and got in, but who knows!) Just the memory of that day, especially the powerful feeling of seeing and hearing him in person, felt like "I love and support you Allen!"
Thank you for this entry today. Ginsburg is among my favorite modern poets. When he was hanging out (on and off) in the Boulder, Colorado, area in the 80s and 90s, I had the joy of hearing him read his poetry several times. Hearing him recite his own words is one of those things you never ever forget. 💜
Norse's "Memoirs of a Bastard Angel" is the best of the genre. He lived a truly incredible life, and his involvement with Modernists like Auden and Williams is equally interesting. Thanks for including this poem which I didn't know.
Full Moon: A Memoir
The Universe led me to Ginsberg’s “Howl” when I was just a boy.
I read an excerpt of it in my 7th grade English class, and my friends loved it.
Little did I know how Ginsberg changed the course of my life at that moment.
But I felt it.
Oh, yeah … hair bristling on the back of my neck, invisible wings growing on my shoulders — as the maddest of my pals howled like baby wolves, enjoying our first full moon.
Reading this poem, and others like Ginsberg’s, is like looking at an era that has regrettably passed away along with them. His poem is an ode to a time of vibrant liberalism and freedom in America.
I love the rambling connection of these two, and what a way to meet… over that amazing Bateau Ivre.
The days of strawberry wine, and paper roses, hippie beads, peace and love....s I g h💧
Read all of him and then went to city lights as a young man and met ferlinghetti - magic poet
Allen was a brilliant fool.
That gives me shivers. Thank you 💚
I love the poem America
Ginsberg, Kerouac, Norse, etc....That whole lot of beatniks were some of my favorite to read during high school. The way they spoke about one another was something else.
We need Ginsberg now! But 5000 years not yet up.
Love it, love them.
"who confiscated your notebooks of dangerous propaganda
for peace and love, for tearing the veil from everyone's eyes,
for exposing truthless beliefs, for exploding popular delusions"
Time to dust off my beat collection.
Important reading
Important enough,
Never to be forgotten!
I only saw Ginsberg once ... it was 50+ years ago so, you know, I was a youngster. I lived in Miami and he was speaking at the Miami Marine Stadium, I was a reporter for the Miami News, but just wanted to hear him, I wasn't there to work. There was a long line, and I waited there to see if my name was on the list. It wasn't of course, so I listened as each person checked in to see the routine. When it was my turn, I saw another person's name on the list, read it upside down and claimed "that's me!" -- no ID was required -- and I was in. That was the day I got to hear the amazing Allen Ginsberg speak (and I hope the person whose name I stole claimed their identity and got in, but who knows!) Just the memory of that day, especially the powerful feeling of seeing and hearing him in person, felt like "I love and support you Allen!"
Thank you for this entry today. Ginsburg is among my favorite modern poets. When he was hanging out (on and off) in the Boulder, Colorado, area in the 80s and 90s, I had the joy of hearing him read his poetry several times. Hearing him recite his own words is one of those things you never ever forget. 💜