Indeed. She was highly censored while she was alive. Her first book of poems was discovered and removed from bookstores by the San Francisco's obscenity squad in the 60s. She once said: “When a society is afraid of its poets, it is afraid of itself. A society afraid of itself stands as another definition of hell.”
for some reason her words of admiration about the beauty of the partner reminded me of D H Lawrence’s poem “She Said As Well To Me”, different from this one, also approaching the idea of male’s beauty…
Could you recommend me a poem of Whitman that you find erotic? The few I’ve read were anything but this 😅 As a side note, in my opinion explicit things have their value, sure, but they let little space for the reader to contribute with his stream of imagination. Explicit things are what they are, things exposed under strong beams of light, hiding nothing. That serves its purpose for the reader who wants everything served on a plate all at once. I rather like the shades, controversy, suggestions, things hiding themselves in shadows, luring the soul, saying little but suggesting lots more… I’m curious about Whitman, any suggestions?
“A glimpse”, “Earth, my likeness” but the total of “Out of the Cradle, Endlessly Rocking.”
I can remember the impact of the latter when I first read this in high school. (Mid 1960s) It happened that a friend was gay and was living his life desperately, so the undercurrent for me was what was then considered a tragedy of no acceptance and I then believed was the (then) fatal knowledge. That this great soul’s homosexuality was being expressed.
I hadn’t heard of her before this. That she was so unafraid and honest in that era must have been powerful and without a doubt powerful.
A trailblazer for her kin born at a time not so dissimilar to hers in many ways
She wrote what sleeping and afraid men and awomen are still
too achingly shamed to hear..
Indeed. She was highly censored while she was alive. Her first book of poems was discovered and removed from bookstores by the San Francisco's obscenity squad in the 60s. She once said: “When a society is afraid of its poets, it is afraid of itself. A society afraid of itself stands as another definition of hell.”
All hail this... we live in the purgatory of perpetual fear of freedom itself..
I sincerely hope that’s not true. But if it is may a new generation of poets change that.
Such a tender poem.
Thank you.
A beautiful lovesong by a beautiful woman
for some reason her words of admiration about the beauty of the partner reminded me of D H Lawrence’s poem “She Said As Well To Me”, different from this one, also approaching the idea of male’s beauty…
This I can remember. I read it then. Yes, Howl was a breakthrough.
[What occurred to me at the time - for what it’s worth - was that Whitman struck me as infinitely more erotic. ]
Could you recommend me a poem of Whitman that you find erotic? The few I’ve read were anything but this 😅 As a side note, in my opinion explicit things have their value, sure, but they let little space for the reader to contribute with his stream of imagination. Explicit things are what they are, things exposed under strong beams of light, hiding nothing. That serves its purpose for the reader who wants everything served on a plate all at once. I rather like the shades, controversy, suggestions, things hiding themselves in shadows, luring the soul, saying little but suggesting lots more… I’m curious about Whitman, any suggestions?
“A glimpse”, “Earth, my likeness” but the total of “Out of the Cradle, Endlessly Rocking.”
I can remember the impact of the latter when I first read this in high school. (Mid 1960s) It happened that a friend was gay and was living his life desperately, so the undercurrent for me was what was then considered a tragedy of no acceptance and I then believed was the (then) fatal knowledge. That this great soul’s homosexuality was being expressed.
Thank you!
Thank you for posting this compelling and vivid introduction to Lenore Kandel. Another Harbor Lights circle miracle.
I did read Ginsburg. He was as descriptive if I recall. I wonder if she was targeted for censure when he was not.
Ginsberg was brought before the courts for Howl. He eventually won against censorship and it was a huge victory for free speech
I’ve fallen in love. Thank you
Filth
Only to the frightened and weak spirited.
To quote Hank Hill: Now THAT is fucking wow :O
Naked poem. A pornography on a cerulean screen.
guess i'll have to read Big Sur again her character slipped thru the other strange sad crossroads kerouac was at
One of a kind - thank you.
Will get my Leaves of Grass out and send some