About Allen Ginsberg

 

       Allen Ginsberg was born on June 3, 1926 and was from Newark, New Jersey. His mother was hospitalized for mental issues when he was only six years old that left his father Louis to care for him and his siblings. When Ginsberg was 11 years old he began to write in a personal journal about his thoughts. Ginsberg finally graduates grammar school and starts to attend high school where he was very involved in the debate team. At 15 years old Ginsberg discovers Walt Whiteman through one of his teachers in High School. Walt Whitman was an American Poet and journalist that was famous during Realism. Short after he was introduced to Walt Whiteman he was very interested in politics. Ginsberg finally gets accepted to Columbia University in NYC. His original plan was to become a labor lawyer. A whole slew of events happen while Ginsberg is at Columbia that he gets suspended for a year because he wrote a message to the housekeeper on his window saying “F**k the Jews” and “Butler has no balls” Butler was the universities president. Since he was suspended from school he decided to join the Merchant Marine. On September 1, 1946 Ginsberg continues his education at Columbia. Ginsberg’s father Louis had divorced his wife Naomi (who was suffering from mental issues) so Ginsberg and his brother were the only ones left to take care of her but Ginsberg’s brother didn’t want anything to do with it so it was up to Allen to help her. Ginsberg comes across William Blake’s “Ah Sunflower” which influenced him for quite some time. Allen was arrested for his roommate’s criminal actions and was sentenced to go to New York States Psychiatric Institute for 8 months. In 1953 Ginsberg writes a poem “Green Automobile” which was a big step in finding his voice.  Good friend William Burroughs moves in with Ginsberg and they have a love affair but ended quickly. While spending this time together they published “Yage Letters”. In the same year Ginsberg hitch hikes to Mexico. At the age of 29 Ginsberg moves to Berkeley, California and writes nemours poems such as “A Strange Cottage in Berkeley,” “A Supermarket in California,” and “Sunflower Sutra” during this time he had any jobs. Finally on March 18, 1956 Ginsberg reads his poem “Howl” in Berkeley for the first time fully. Three months later he received a letter saying that his mother has passed. “Howl and Other Poems” was published by City Lights Books and was number 4 of the Pocket Poet series. “Howl” was picked up by under cover cops who charge it as a crime by selling obscene literature. The judge cleared it for not obscene. At the age of 32 Ginsberg finishes his poem “Kaddish” in a 36 hour sitting. In 1960 Ginsberg finally completes   

       ”Kaddish” and “Kaddish and Other Poems” was published in 1961. Through 1961 to 1963 Ginsberg travels all around the world.  When he arrives home attends his welcome home party and his good friend brings Bob Dylan as a guest, the outcome of that was Allen and Bob becoming close friends. During the late 60s he wrote for music artists. In the 70s he had traveled to more places and wrote about those experiences. “The Fall of America” was published and was based on what Ginsberg would see during his travels. Ginsberg thought that government was basically out for him because they were so aware of Ginsberg and his actions that it worried them. His sexual behavior was noted as “dangours.” During the 80s and 90s he had many more accomplishments and was happy with his choices and life. Close friends of his were also passing away at this time, including Carl Solomon, which “Howl” was, dedicates to.  Allen Ginsberg died from liver cancer at the age of 70 on April 5,1997. Close friends and family surrounded him when he passed.

            Allen Ginsberg is a inspiration he died at 70 years old but did so much with his time. Reading about Ginsberg made me realize that you cannot slow yourself down and to keep on looking for more answers and seeing life for what it really is. He had a tough family situation but he wasn’t afraid to travel and let go of the past. Reading about all his traveling almost made me tired, he literally went everywhere around the world. He wrote and spoke about his life experiences and why or why not he likes certain things or places. He falls into the Post-Modernism movement because he uses he references other peoples writing in his own.