They
say all publicity is good. For poet Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), the publicity
he received for the publication of Howl and Other Poems permanently
defined his career.
It
is 1955. Ginsberg has written a long poem he’s entitles “Howl” that is about
capitalism and “the system.” In fact, the poem is a long “howl” about the
system. It’s filled with vivid imagery, including sexual imagery, quite graphic
sexual imagery.
Poet
Louis Ferlinghetti, who owns the City Light Books bookstore in San Francisco,
publishes the poem in a relatively small collection. William Carlos Williams
writes the introduction. Ginsberg reads the poem publicly in late 1955. City
Lights Books arranges the printing in London. The printed volumes arrive, and
are promptly seized by customs officials.
To
continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak
Poetry.
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