Scan barcode
A review by alitasharing
Howl, Kaddish and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg
2.0
Devastating. Brutal. Poems of exquisite suffering. I think some part of me has changed in reading these poems. Some hidden eyes within myself now flutter open; looking, seeing - taking in.
This collection is arresting despite some of the poems' absurd vagueness and hyperspecific references.
Ginsberg writes with the openness of a laceration - the sinew, blood, and tendon of his life laid out for all to read. I cried reading Kaddish, I was stirred reading Ignu.
This man can write poetry that is both a punch in the gut and a kiss on the forehead.
Update (24 June 2021):
It has come to my attention that Ginsberg was a pedophile.
Allen Ginsburg, whose work is widely regarded as great American literature, was a member of NAMBLA (the North American Man/Boy Love Association) - a US pro-pedophilia group. This changes a lot. Even though I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and his writing, I believe that it is often impossible to separate artists from their art - the latter is borne of the former, and thus, bears the characteristics of its parent. Yes, in time it may change and an artist may acknowledge that who they were is no longer who they wish to be. I believe in leaving room for growth and healing for everyone.
But it is different for artists who are now dead. Their life's works (what they made, did and said) speak for them. And Ginsberg was on some real garbage.
Now look, the dude did a lot. He talked openly about his support for communism, was a major proponent of freedom for gay people and even worked to demystify drugs. It's undeniable that he believed in some wonderful and radical ideas. But Ginsberg he was a pedophile and that I cannot abide.
So, I am changing my rating. I am changing it because I have learned something about the author that will change the way I see their art. The love and respect I have for this work has soured and decayed. I can appreciate it from a technical standpoint but I am sick of watching white men be worshipped and idolised without acknowledgement of their harmful, horrible ideas and the things they supported.
Whoever you are or may be, I still think you should read this book but let it be with the knowledge that it was written by a man who once said, "...I’m a member of NAMBLA because I love boys too—everybody does, who has a little humanity." And that is a pretty gross thing to say.
This collection is arresting despite some of the poems' absurd vagueness and hyperspecific references.
Ginsberg writes with the openness of a laceration - the sinew, blood, and tendon of his life laid out for all to read. I cried reading Kaddish, I was stirred reading Ignu.
This man can write poetry that is both a punch in the gut and a kiss on the forehead.
Update (24 June 2021):
It has come to my attention that Ginsberg was a pedophile.
Allen Ginsburg, whose work is widely regarded as great American literature, was a member of NAMBLA (the North American Man/Boy Love Association) - a US pro-pedophilia group. This changes a lot. Even though I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and his writing, I believe that it is often impossible to separate artists from their art - the latter is borne of the former, and thus, bears the characteristics of its parent. Yes, in time it may change and an artist may acknowledge that who they were is no longer who they wish to be. I believe in leaving room for growth and healing for everyone.
But it is different for artists who are now dead. Their life's works (what they made, did and said) speak for them. And Ginsberg was on some real garbage.
Now look, the dude did a lot. He talked openly about his support for communism, was a major proponent of freedom for gay people and even worked to demystify drugs. It's undeniable that he believed in some wonderful and radical ideas. But Ginsberg he was a pedophile and that I cannot abide.
So, I am changing my rating. I am changing it because I have learned something about the author that will change the way I see their art. The love and respect I have for this work has soured and decayed. I can appreciate it from a technical standpoint but I am sick of watching white men be worshipped and idolised without acknowledgement of their harmful, horrible ideas and the things they supported.
Whoever you are or may be, I still think you should read this book but let it be with the knowledge that it was written by a man who once said, "...I’m a member of NAMBLA because I love boys too—everybody does, who has a little humanity." And that is a pretty gross thing to say.