But this is all speculation, mediation, nay, emasculation...I find in you a kindred absorption with identity, dramatic meaning, classic unity, and immortality: you pace a stage, yet sit in the boxes and watch. You seek identity in the midst of indistinguishable chaos, in sprawling nameless reality. Like myself, you deserve the Adlerian verdict...He who seeks all knowledge, and then all life and all power...He is egocentric. How paltry is the def.
I absolutely loved this, his writing is full of obscene and surreal imagery; my favourite was 'Death to Van Gogh's Ear!' which was politically dated but still very relevant and I liked what he had to say about money - being an illusion.
His poems aren't your traditional poems, they don't rhyme or anything, they're like a stream of thought and I now can see why Allen Ginsberg was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
- and you there standing before me in the sunset, all your glory in your form!
A perfect beauty of a sunflower! a perfect excellent lovely sunflower existence! a sweet natural eye to the new hip moon, woke up alive and excited grasping the sunset shadow sunrise golden monthly breeze!
- "Sunflower Sutra"
#poetrymatters #sunflower @TheSpineView
Fun fact: any Kerouac or Ginsberg I've read was part of college and I remember very little tbh. I discovered this book at the City Library yesterday as I'd been questing through the stacks looking for books that might fit with a book display idea. I started flipping through these pages and OMG I LOVE THIS BOOK. The window into their lives and friendship is such a treasure. Also I'm reminded that I really should try to write more letters...
fortunately all the governments will fall
the only ones which won't fall are the good ones
and the good ones don't yet exist
- "Death to Van Gogh's Ear!"
Money had reckoned the soul of America
Congress broken thru to the precipice of Eternity
The President built a war machine which will vomit and rear up Russia out of Kansas
The American Century betrayed by a mad Senate which no longer sleeps with its wife
- "Death to Van Gogh's Ear!"
"America hides mad meat
in refrigerator Britain"
Not what Ginsberg had in mind, but these words from "Europe! Europe!" resonate for me with the prospect of chlorine-washed chicken becoming a UK standard in the post-Brexit bonfire of EU regulations.
Finished the poem "Kaddish" and feel exhausted - what a poignant and painful testament to mental illness and parent-child relationships. The words "brutal honesty" can't do justice to this incredible poem - not for the faint- hearted.
We're not our skin of grime, we're not our dread bleak dusty imageless locomotive, we're all beautiful golden sunflowers inside
- "Sunflower Sutra"
