Howl and other poems by Allen Ginsberg
For recent clubs, I have started trying to introduce the reading of a little poetry. I don’t read enough of it, and so a club week is the perfect excuse. Today’s book is one I’ve owned for decades; it was second hand when I got my copy, and is in a bit of a grungy state; but it was an early acquisition for me of a Beat poet, and has stayed with me since my teens. The book is “Howl and other poems” and the author Allen Ginsberg.
Ginsberg has already made an appearance here on the Ramblings; back in 2016, I covered volume 5 in the Penguin Modern Poets series, where he was joined by two other Beat poets, Gregory Corso and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. I shared then my delight at re-encountering Ginsberg and the musicality of his poetry; and that element was certainly present in “Howl”.
The long title poem is probably the poet’s most famous and notorious work, and was banned and then subject to a long court trial, finally being judged to be not obscene. It dealt with subjects like sex, drugs, mental health and homosexuality, so was of course bound to cause controversy. And the opening lines are justifiably famous:
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,
angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection
to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night,
who poverty and tatters and hollow-eyed and high sat up smoking
in the supernatural darkness of cold-water flats floating
across the tops of cities contemplating jazz…
(I reproduce the layout and line endings as they appear in my edition)
The poem is a strikingly vivid and multi-layered, full of autobiographical allusions to fellow authors like Burroughs, Kerouac and Neal Cassady, as well as events from Ginsberg’s life. It’s a stunning and memorable work and I can understand the impact it had at the time.
Other poems in the volume include “A Supermarket in California” and “Sunflower Sutra” , both of which appeared in the Penguin volume. These share the musical quality of much of Ginsberg’s verse, and as I commented at the time, it’s not really surprising he recorded his own work, whether in poetic or song format, as well as appearing on an album with The Clash.
As I mentioned above, I first read Ginsberg (and indeed all the Beats) back in my teens; I’ve not revisited many recently and there is always that question of how well the work will hold up and how much it’s dated (also bearing in mind that when I first read the books some of the writers were alive, and some only recently deceased – we’re talking quite a while ago…) With “Howl” itself, whilst I loved the lyricism, I picked up elements of misogyny lurking to which I might have been less sensitive in the past. The lauding of Neil Cassady because of the number of women he screwed and then abandoned isn’t something I’m particularly comfortable with; and there is an element of scorn for women at times which may stem from Ginsberg’s own sexual preferences.
However, putting that caveat aside, I found much to love in the poetry of Allen Ginsberg. There is some really powerful and beautiful imagery, a sense of despair at the state of the world and, I think, a plea for understanding and the tolerance of individuality. In these modern times where conformity is ever more expected, we could all do with a little more empathy with our fellow humans.
A Life in Books
Oct 10, 2020 @ 09:09:03
A resounding ‘yes’ to your last sentence.
madamebibilophile
Oct 10, 2020 @ 09:14:31
I also find the disregard for women in the beat writings unpleasant, but as you say, there’s still much to enjoy too. I have to be in the right mood! He was a wonderful poet.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 13:50:27
It *is* of its time, but I usually manage to put that aside and just look at the beauty of the words. And Ginsburg really was an excellent poet.
Tredynas Days
Oct 10, 2020 @ 12:14:25
It was what was needed in mid-fifties America, despite the shortcomings you mention. We could do with something as stringent now, to counter the ‘epistemic vandalism’ (great phrase in an article in today’s Guardian online by Jonathan Freedland) of DT. I guess without Ginsberg there’d have been no Dylan.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 13:49:28
Absolutely – and it’s of its time which is why I noted this rather than leaping to judgement, I suppose. But I do agree that we desperately need something to challenge those in power and the status quo now. They were very important writers.
Liz Dexter
Oct 10, 2020 @ 12:46:41
I never know which of these I’ve read, as I had a bit of a phase at one point and haven’t revisited them since. There’s a good variety in your 1956 reading!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 13:47:33
I read *tons* of Beat books back in the day – and I still own most of them! But yes – I’ve tried to introduce plenty of variety for this club!
Julé Cunningham
Oct 10, 2020 @ 13:48:56
This reminds me of a great teacher I had in high school who one day dramatically read a Ginsberg poem (first ostentatiously shutting the classroom windows), maybe the best age for appreciating the Beats. She was also about the only other person I knew then who loved reading the Russians.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 13:53:05
Teachers can be so inspirational – I can still remember the ones who affected me. I think the Beats might well be best appreciated young, though Ginsberg did mature more than the others I think.
Jane
Oct 10, 2020 @ 17:12:48
I haven’t read Howl for a few years and this is such an even-handed review, your last line is spot on – this expected conformity worries me and makes me want to Howl.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 19:08:03
Thank you! I felt I needed to mention the attitudes towards women, but I would never negate Ginsberg’s poetic achievements. And *totally* fed up with the current conformity in everything, including literature – writing should come from the heart, not be taught in university courses…
Reese, Reader (@ReeseReader)
Oct 10, 2020 @ 20:14:31
I heard Ginsburg give a reading in the early 80s. (With harmonium!) He was a pretty entertaining performer.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 10, 2020 @ 20:19:46
How wonderful! That must have been a memorable event! 😀
heavenali
Oct 10, 2020 @ 21:04:17
I definitely agree with that final sentence. Such a good idea to read poetry for the 1956 club. Such a pity about that misogyny though, they would put me off a bit.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 11, 2020 @ 10:18:41
I like to slip a little poetry into the mix if I can! 🤣
JacquiWine
Oct 11, 2020 @ 09:04:27
I think I read this back in the days of my youth, and while I can still recall the general impression it left, much of the detail has slipped from my mind. Nice to see a reminder of it here, especially with the benefit of looking back from a 21st-century perspective. On the subject on the poem, this might be of interest – a review of the film ‘Howl’ starring James Franco as Ginsburg.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/howl-2010
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 11, 2020 @ 10:14:56
It’s wonderful writing, but inevitable that the odd element should jar a little. Less obvious in his other poems though- and not enough to put me off wanting to read him! And thank you for the link – I’ve seen Howl and rated it highly because as I recall it didn’t sensationalise events!
JacquiWine
Oct 11, 2020 @ 17:01:24
Oh, excellent! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 11, 2020 @ 18:38:34
I did. Thought it captured the period and the characters really well!
buriedinprint
Oct 16, 2020 @ 20:28:07
oooOOOooo, I seem to recall that that’s a highly sought after edition of Howl. Lovely.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 16, 2020 @ 20:57:13
It’s certainly not a first, but it’s from the seventies I believe. Old and gnarled, but still readable!