The words we say, actions we take, how it affects us all. This struck a cord. I hope she was able to welcome her son home safe and sound. Wonderful poem.
Back in the late 80s, I was in line for a book signing after one of Ginsberg's readings in Berkeley. I must have had a half-dozen of his books with me. Allen had three or four prescription medicine containers lined up in front of him. At the time I was taking some psych med and exclaimed, "Gee, Allen, we're on the same meds!" He said absolutely nothing to me in response. Didn't even look up. But per my request, he kindly signed some of my books to my Hebrew name, and others to my English name. Allen Ginsberg was probably the first 'weird & proud freak' I discovered when I arrived in San Francisco in 1986. Julia Vinograd soon after...
Great poem. That captures the time perfectly. That thinking, like Yoko, "War is over if you want it." was simultaneously empowering and pathetically naive, if you understood the forces at work in government. The horrible reality underneath. Once someone said to Bob Dylan that Crosby Stills Nash and Young believed they ended the war. Dylan, who understands history, laughed and said, "Well, they were just the guys to do it."
I prefer Kerouac who didn’t buy into the hippy dream that became the woke nightmare. Poetic outlaws overall is terrific though.
I would also add I loved Kerouac's response to Bill Buckley's question about Kerouac's position on VIeetnam, where Kerouac claimed they started it to steal our jeeps. A terrific act of DaDa sabotage of this dumb culture war question, that simultaneously didn't buy into the horrible war, or the hippy bullshit that would become the woke nightmare.
“Words are deeds” is a precept of Wittgenstein’s philosophy that has become a widely accepted explanation for why they matter. Words inspire actions and actions words, blurring lines between them. I prefer Twain’s one-liner: “Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.” — Mark Twain 🤣
I hope her son managed to get home. What a shitty thing for him to do. Excellent poem and I'm glad she chronicled that moment..
So terribly sad. And still is.
The words we say, actions we take, how it affects us all. This struck a cord. I hope she was able to welcome her son home safe and sound. Wonderful poem.
As I was reading this to my husband it hit me and I got choked up while reading the part about the old woman.
Back in the late 80s, I was in line for a book signing after one of Ginsberg's readings in Berkeley. I must have had a half-dozen of his books with me. Allen had three or four prescription medicine containers lined up in front of him. At the time I was taking some psych med and exclaimed, "Gee, Allen, we're on the same meds!" He said absolutely nothing to me in response. Didn't even look up. But per my request, he kindly signed some of my books to my Hebrew name, and others to my English name. Allen Ginsberg was probably the first 'weird & proud freak' I discovered when I arrived in San Francisco in 1986. Julia Vinograd soon after...
Thank you all for being an major part of my souls and life and times. I love it here and would be here full time with more time!
This hit hard.
Great poem. That captures the time perfectly. That thinking, like Yoko, "War is over if you want it." was simultaneously empowering and pathetically naive, if you understood the forces at work in government. The horrible reality underneath. Once someone said to Bob Dylan that Crosby Stills Nash and Young believed they ended the war. Dylan, who understands history, laughed and said, "Well, they were just the guys to do it."
"My son. My son is coming home."
WOW!
I prefer Kerouac who didn’t buy into the hippy dream that became the woke nightmare. Poetic outlaws overall is terrific though.
I would also add I loved Kerouac's response to Bill Buckley's question about Kerouac's position on VIeetnam, where Kerouac claimed they started it to steal our jeeps. A terrific act of DaDa sabotage of this dumb culture war question, that simultaneously didn't buy into the horrible war, or the hippy bullshit that would become the woke nightmare.
Heart shattering.
God damn. 😭
Stunning, painful, heart-wrenchingly vivid, thank you @Julia Vinograd.
“Words are deeds” is a precept of Wittgenstein’s philosophy that has become a widely accepted explanation for why they matter. Words inspire actions and actions words, blurring lines between them. I prefer Twain’s one-liner: “Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.” — Mark Twain 🤣
Because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not real.
Ginsberg what a person in some of our lives and times.