Shira on Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg, photographed by William S. Burroughs on the rooftop of his Lower East Side apartment building, 1953.

"Since art is merely and ultimately self-expressive, we conclude that the fullest art, the most individual, uninfluenced, unrepressed, uninhibited expression of art is true expression and the true art."
– Allen Ginsberg


Irwin Allen Ginsberg was born on June 3rd, 1926 and died April 5th, 1997. He published his works from age 21 to his death. Many remember him for his dramatic reading of his iconic poem Howl in San Fransisco, but all of his poems alone measured over 1,200 pages. "Kaddish" told the story of his mother and her war with psychotic episodes, which led to her lobotomy. The Allen Ginsberg Project site has a wonderful wealth of information on Ginsberg's life and travels, while The Academy of American Poets site (poets.org) focuses more on what influenced him. Both sites touch on his versatility, but I find it's something you need to see to believe. 

Look at poems such as "In Society,"and "Newt Gingrich Declares War on “McGovernik Counterculture”* (contained in a collection of his last poems). I would also suggest looking in to Fie My Fum and Pull My Daisy, as well as Please Open The Window and Let Me In, and, of course, Kaddish and Howl.

During my research I also found a very cool collage here.

*Note from Ms. Schamess: Be a bit careful of using comments on a board, listserve, Reddit, etc. as a source. I did check a couple of places to make absolute sure this poem was indeed written by Ginsberg, so this reference is okay.