Allen Ginsberg

[jrhols]

One of my alltime favorite poems! @dupsacque I think it is in the Howl collection. "I have mystical visions and cosmic vibrations" :)

[dupsacque]

is this poem from a particular collection? if so, which one?

[TheThoughtCop]

I don't understand the meaning/purpose/message of the juxtaposition of Tom's soft and sensitive "Closing Time" with Ginsburg's angry poem of the America he knew. Don't get me wrong...I dig the poem and I dig most of Ginsberg's art - his poetry and prose but he was (and quite rightfully) an angry man. I'm not sure Tom Waits' work is occupies the same universe.

[iamtalkingtomyself]

The song is Tom Waits - Closing Time from his debut album.

[SanVisClips]

What is this beautiful music?? are you sure it is by Tom Waits? does anyone have the link to it??

[TheThoughtCop]

@SanVisClips did you ever find the info on "Closing Time"? It is the title track to one of his earlier albums. Incidentally, the entire album is filled with just this sort of emotionally saturated melancholy - stories of "love lost" and "love found" and "loves lost and found". You may be doing your ears a favor by searching out Toms earlier music. You'll find it as different from his later music as Dylans early acoustic music and his later work with an electric guitar. Both eras are great

[levi501ism]

Exquisite!

[jhump2431]

where can I find this song at ?

[TheThoughtCop]

@jhump2431 I will tell you if you rephrase your question so that it does not end in a preposition.

[jhump2431]

@TheThoughtCop Its cool I got it off limewire a while back :), I would also like to add that more than likely Tom Waits and Allen Ginsberg didn't mind it either. Your a cool guy by the way :)

[DrunkenPiano]

ok the tags for this are politics gay fuck bush. LOL

[gremlinfeatures]

@DrunkenPiano hahahahaha

[cxmafia]

Quite possibly the most beautyful poem ever written

[sergawainn]

america, are you being sinister or is this some form of practical joke?

[kainefenton]

@sergawainn oh you didnt hear? Its a practical joke us and russia is in on it.

[pandainaforest]

If only there was no music...

[editchick]

Doesn't this hit some cord in you in resect to America today?

Where are you ideas?

[shmike1984]

My mind is made up, there is going to be trouble.

[TheFoggieloaner]

What a superb mix of music and words. I've never visited America but this video is like a trip round the USA. For goodness sake just chill out and enjoy.

[Anghdhpstr]

*he

[Anghdhpstr]

I'm glad persuaded youths to take drugs.

[HenryGeee]

actually, William S. Burroughs wrote some piece about his asshole...I would like to read the read poem from Ginsberg with the same topic,it should be fun

[xxdonaldqxx]

What disgusting hunk of garbage Ginsberg was.That pig Ginsberg helped persuade a lot of young people to take drugs.May he burn in hell.That pig actually wrote a poem about his asshole.

[xfubar]

clearly you should smoke a joint and shut the fuck up

[xxdonaldqxx]

Why don't you light up a joint,listen to a wonderful poem about Ginsberg's ass hole and stare at a ceiling fan or the wall.loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xfubar]

drop the messiah act, you just look like an ignorant douchebag.

[xxdonaldqxx]

I think Ginsberg had a messiah complex.Anybody that buys into Ginsbergs silly hocus pocus is an ignorant douchebag.

[mrjoje]

lol I bet you hate Elvis too

[xxdonaldqxx]

I don't like his music but at least it was music and not sick dribble from a pervert.

[mrjoje]

You're a dumbass, Elvis had sexual relations with a 14 year old girl.

[Maxspatula]

Ginsberg's self esteem wasn't all that. Read Mescaline, for example.

[loiduplusfort]

fuck you xxdonaldqxx

[AristYdes]

Wait until your rectum is filled with my cum then youll see the light

[xxdonaldqxx]

Well sicko you will die trying something sick like that.You better look for another victim.

[barlasha]

You should see me reading Marx :D Long Live GIsnberg

[arachadian]

WTF i did it and nothing happened whoever made this Fu*k you

[theosdoron]

thank you for sharing!

[scorzeny45]

LEFTWING LIBERAL JEW.

[RobertBerardi]

you say that like its a bad thing

[typhontyrant]

magical

[Gmail0509]

America why are your libraries full of tears? ...

this poem t's so beautiful ..I Love Ginsberg!...

[platoon018]

" I sit in my house for days on end and stare at the roses in my closet "

amazing

[MarxBakuninMe]

I've had similar experiences, usually with Burroughs and Ginsberg, and have failed exams because I was busy enjoying their work. But at least I was in good company, and I learnt a lot.

[atbundros]

Well done

[Paolo250376]

Allen is the MAN!! wonderful poem!!!

[HarveyBirdmanAttrn]

nice job by mr. depp

[BitterRedBuffalo]

This boasting of intellect on the internet is pure comedy, keep up the good work..... It inspires me to write all sorts of terribly immoral things.

[harriesapiens]

great im glad i whas there in holland

when he did his "poetry tour"

[ddv13devo]

For those of you that are wondering, the Tom Waits piece in the background is "Closing Time".

[SickThing9]

What a brilliant human being he was.

[sd2742]

Great photo montage...

[sw33tness34]

some tell me if there is ne books out there with all his poety and which one is the best

[sutcliffe62x]

i used to hang out with ginsburg, burroughs, and their friend trung, who was a 'tibetan lama'. they were constatntly drunk, drugged up, and their primary occupation seemed to be begging for gay sex from young guys like me. really repulsive human garbage. ginsburg was a talentless hack who would have gone nowhere were he not a jewish communist.

[moodsk00]

Yeah, Jewish Communists have always got the breaks in America.

[ellyunfortunetly]

aaaaww poor you. Don't we hate it when our friends become successful? ;(

[dinnerbucket9]

Such hatred. Such poison. Such self-cancellation. I do not believe for one moment you had any contact with these people whatsoever. How do you sleep?

[dalevaniersel]

awesome

[lukemitchell4]

Did Tom Waits really write this background music? It doesn't really seem like his style but he's always accredited to the song. Anyone know?

[lolotr0ll]

yea, it's called 'closing time'

[adamhunterprice]

This is my favorite Ginsburg poem.

[danmaani]

the beats are something good for me these days. Who ever said that a poem has any other use than to change the youtubing boys of my generation. Allen wont get tired of telling me about America, thats good, what an immortaliser a video is.

[regolio]

is a epigram like a epidermis? america is a great poem so is howl, so is chicago, the wastelands and the hollow men ain't bad either but can you really compare them to leaves of grass?

[asylumasylum]

i smoke marijuana every chance i get

[ital421]

rabmunch--

you sir, (somehow i can tell by your words that you are a man) seem very miserable to be alive.

[rabmunch]

Juvenal said: only write satires.

Martial had to compose little insults.

Flaubert wrote a complete parody, or simply drew from what he saw....

And what is left to do? So little variety, and so pale. One herd and no shepherd. Mooo.

[Aentnothan]

Dr. Rabmunch, your a very real professor but nothing else. You cant control your musk glands. Your incompetent and incontinent. Bad things for a skunk. Good for a skunk catcher with lots of helpers.

[OliverAB]

If Ginsberg is fake then who is real?

[jkjkjk2424]

howl is the best epic poem of the 20th century hands down. he is a the walt whitman of his time hands down.

[Kymahar]

I think Ginsberg's (I'm not sure who Ginsburgh is) influence and position as a legend has been well-established for some time now. To argue that he was worthless is foolish from any angle you choose to look at it, no matter how much you may despise him.

[rabmunch]

Well established? So was pederasty, according to Oscar Wilde! But anyway, Ginzbergh was a sham despite whatever the herd of eccentrics might say. Why dont you think for yourself? To rely on the judgement of the herd is always a foolish decision. Read Nietzsche on the Last Man, and you will understand what Ginsburgh & contemporary America is all about.

[Kymahar]

What are you talking about? I don't see anyone claiming to an eccentric here. You have proven nothing besides that you seem to enjoy stirring up controversy for no good reason.

[rabmunch]

It's for no good reason only when the reader doesnt conside what I have said. I wont bore you with repeating all the points you can read for yourself below. On Utube space is limited. One must write in epigrams. Do you know what that is? Obviously not.

[errtu2]

it would also be good to consider that every great idea began as a blasphemy

[rabmunch]

Lincoln's idea freedom will never be known to you. His temperament was nobly brooding & serious. Every great idea once a blasphemy? By that standard, you slogan-monger, every blasphemy might be considered a great idea. The beat generations and their little Calabans like you exalt permissiveness & insolence for it's own sake, because you like it. It flatters you.

[errtu2]

well it is flattering

[rabmunch]

Fine confession!

Ginzberg's silliness is flattering to all those who like to think of themselves as interesting and unique eccentrics, having under-appreciated talents or views, or tastes. In fact, they are the common herd.

He makes the low, stupid and insignificant feel some cheap self-esteem. Therapy for the excluded multitude.

A new soap: As the Stomach Turns.

[errtu2]

well im glad that somewhere out there there is a person that feels themselves worthy of judging men. my apologies for not recognizing your superiority. please excuse me for having an opinion, i should have realized that i was spiritually empty in exploring all the poetic possibilities.

[KingOfDestruction]

My friend who then do you consider to be a great poet/writer? I'm curious to know.

[rabmunch]

... what in me is dark

Illumine, what is low raise and support;

That to the highth of this great argument

I may assert Eternal Providence,

And justify the ways of God to men.

[KingOfDestruction]

I apologise but I don't recognise that piece of writing. I enjoyed it though so If you wouldn't mind sharing the author with me I would appreciate it.

[rabmunch]

Milton

[errtu2]

You remind me of the main character in the Confederacy of Dunces, Ignatius. He thinks he is a genius as well.

[rabmunch]

just for the record: neither I nor my friends are so foolish or vain as to think I am a genius.

I don't live with my mother, I am not Catholic, and I never go to movies.

So, now what have you to say in defense of Gintzpurgh and his kind? They are a malicious, vile race; of humane sentiment they haven't a trace. Imbecilic, half insane, & trivial. Pretending to radicalism with the intent to shock ordinary middle class morals. May I suggest for you: rectalingus?

[Maxspatula]

I feel that you misinterpret these works. If you were shocked by their poems at the time then they were probably royally tickeled by that. But I think the beat generation's emotions are just that they felt very lost, as in lost in history. They felt that they didn't belong in the Kunstwollen at that time and wanted to force one for their self.

Their is a very sad voice to be heard in Ginsberg and Kerouac; they were missing something and wanted to create that missed something themselves.

[skulrule]

Ignatius was a genius.

I love this poem too.

[JamboCordoba]

Do you go out of your way to be a pompous ass? Come on man, you're turning everybody off to intellectual culture with this silly air of superiority. Your selection of favorites indicates to me that you have no interest in anything non-canonical (and we're talking non-canonical as of maybe 1950). Whats more, you seem to have no interest in anything that's at all fun. You strike me as someone's who's insecure about his intelligence and therefore must compensate by being boring and disliking fun.

[rabmunch]

You are surely a perfect onanist.

That is what you call "fun".

What is "fun"?

Pederasty too is fun, for some.

Now, don't go and be a moralist! Remember - have some fun.

[JamboCordoba]

Bitch please. I have fun every day. My knowledge of the degree to which Ginsberg was in fact involved in pederasty is limited. Lets keep in mind age of consent varies by country and time period, though. Terminology plays a role here too. The term "boy" can easily denote a young guy of consensual age. And its not as if we totally dismiss the accomplishments of George Washington for being a slave owner. So, chill out, and go have some fun. Let Kerouac inspire you, dammit. Thats what he's here for.

[rabmunch]

Jamboy: digitally massaging the prostate is apparently good for your health as well as being fun, so you may enjoy a double benefit.

Why dont you provide the same courtesy for your friend as you fellatiate him? That too may be fun!

Conundrum for you tonight: can rape be consensual? It will certainly be "con-sensual", though both you and your boy will have a different "sense" about it.

Question: were you born in the gutter, or is living there your way of having some more fun?

[JamboCordoba]

Stop being obtuse. Are you a homophobe or are you just bored and uptight? Are you actually setting up some kind of straw man who advocates rape? Is this your idea of effective argument by hyperbole? Step out of your Ivory tower. It'll do you some good. And clarify your weird gutter rhetoric.

[rabmunch]

I am no homo-phobe, in that I do not fear "man" in general or whatever is the "same". What is "uptight"? What is the opposite? Relaxed?

I am not bored: you give me indigestion & nauseate. How then can I adhere to my motto when you continually disturb me peptically? Mens sane in corpore sano.

You are a man made of straw. Stay away from all sparks and flames, or any source of heat: "It'll do you no good".

I will clarify: you are a last man.

[JamboCordoba]

Its obvious that I'm using the term homophobe in its colloquial capacity. "Do you have beef with gay people?" is clearly the question at hand. Now go ahead and make some weird "joke" about beef being a penis or something. Oh, and please use as much flowery language as you can conjure up.

[rabmunch]

IN every reply you use the word "weird" in a derogatory manner.

That is remarkable. Did you know that in the 50's & early sixties the "Beats" (as you like to call them) were labeled as "weird", and considered immoral persons from the gutter? It seems now that the gutter perspective of the "Beats" has been victorious, & anything that questions their understanding of freedom or creativity or fun is "weird", "homosexual-hating-fearing",& snobbish.

You live the justifications of a genuine last man.

[rabmunch]

A man of straw, of wet straw. It's safer that way.

Life is fun. Fashion is fun too. Enjoy your vapid herd existence. Death will come like a dream. Every moment of a trivial & vain existence are different & entertaining, but all the same. You are a numerator over an infinitely herdlike denominator. A cipher.

[JamboCordoba]

Just because your herd is composed entirely of elderly nerds with weird Ubermensch complexes (yes, I'm speculating) doesn't mean it isn't a herd. Anyways, I'm unsure as to what grounds you have to even begin to accuse me of being part of a "vapid herd existence." Do you accuse me of this because I like fun? Because I enjoy the literature and poetry of the beats? I already said "bitch please" last time. And I really don't feel like going to the effort to interpret your weird math metaphors.

[corosos]

when will you end the human war?

[icenineuser]

have you published anything in english rabmunch?

[nhnbsp]

professor rabmunch, you spelled Caliban wrong...

[rabmunch]

Right you are. I did spell Caliban incorrectly.

Thanks for noticing.

Good of you to read my comments, though I am sure you cannot feel or see the truth in them - otherwise you wouldn't be so particular about how I spelled Caliban.

There is no question that Caliban has more character and is capable of greater humanity than the descendants of gintzpurgh.

"...get a new master, get a new man!"

[nhnbsp]

rabmunch, let me start by saying i'm not a huge ginsberg fan. i feel he was talented, and i think he's a very notable american poet but his work doesn't really speak to me. as to not seeing or feeling the truth of your comments, it's hard to give much creedence to somebody that is picking a fight in the youtube comment section; why tell all these people that their favorite poet is garbage? and as to your comment on caliban having more character and being more capable of humanity...

[nhnbsp]

i can think of worse insults. monster or not he had the bard writing for him. "you gave me language and my profit on it is that i curse. the red plague rid you for learning me your language". i wouldn't call that devoid of character or humanity. but what do i know? i'm no scholar.

[rabmunch]

I would rather pick "a fight" than wallow in idiocy and pick my nose.

But I dont "pick fights" either.

You fail to see the thrust of what I have said. You are indeed a fine scholar with all your hairsplitting tolerance. Do you suck your thumb while you reason so prudently?

I mustn't complain about the inability of others to grasp a point. It is as necessary as gravity. What is left to say but to satirize? When someone like you speaks, you rob me of my task. Why? You satirize yourself.

[nhnbsp]

i didn't think that i had missed the "thrust" of what you said, but i don't know what hairsplitting tolerance is, so i'm at least a little lost. maybe you could explain your point in easy to digest words for me(you have time since i satirize myself for you). i've got to say, for an intellectual superior satirist, you seem sensitive. what would nietzsche think? and am i so bad for focusing on the positive in people? for example, just now you stuck to words you know how to spell. GOOD JOB!

[rabmunch]

It is incumbent upon you to explain how gintzpurgh had "talent", & that he is a "notable American poet." This is all merely repetition of what a tasteless crude element of public opinion repeats ad nauseum. It rings hollow. It has no substance. It is shallow. The beatniks cannot be understood as artists by any manner of means. They were insolent rebels against gentle middle class moralism. It constrained their urges, & held them in contempt. It despised them, not without good reason, & instinct.

[rabmunch]

Actually: Gansburgh and his type are all the children of Calaban. "Calabanites."

Someone coined the perfect name for them, Calabanites.

Nice that it rhymes with Catamites!

[errtu2]

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.  ~Abraham Lincoln

[rabmunch]

Freedom is not undisciplined permissiveness. It is not the ability to do as one pleases, to indulge in acts or thoughts or passions unworthy of a true man, woman, or human being who lives for the sake of nobility & truth. Freedom is more burdensome & harder to endure than slavery itself, & that is why most human beings prefer slavery. What we call freedom today is a travesty & a debasing absurdity.

[LiebsterBruder]

The American Constitution was a promise to millions who wanted to live in freedom, practise religion, participate in politics or to articulate criticism. Rabmunch feels obliged to defend these important 'American' traditions here. But he doesn't understand that Ginsberg does a truely American thing: He makes use of his right to critize. There is a very important quote from Rosa Luxemburg, I'd like to translate for Rabmunch (original is German): Freedom always is the freedom of those who disagree

[rabmunch]

If you really loved your brother you would learn to despise these imposters.

So you abuse noble things with a noble pose: Bruderschaft and Freiheit. How dare you speak about them? Schiller isnt even a name for you. The contemporary idea of "freedom" is a decayed rotting vestige of something known over 200 years ago.

[errtu2]

please rabmunch enlighten us, who admire allen ginsberg and the beats, with what true freedom is. i beg you. please define what poetry and art can and cant be. i beg you. its fine do criticize poet and an artist but what you are doing is ridiculus. i enjoyed reading the poems on your profile but what is your aim in adressing us, the faceless people of this board to why appealing to the Plebians gives freedom a bad name

[errtu2]

i think that rabmunch is a bit of a fascist. all tied up in his ideas of glory and philosophy. its a bit sad that one who thinks himself so grand and worthy of dispensing contempt to be arguing with the faceless users of the internet. Ginsberg had his genius, as do so many. even some of rabmunchs poetry on his profile is okay. its a little elementary and far to entrapped in prose to capture any real voice or spirit but its still a good read.

[rabmunch]

Errtu? You Err too much. Much too much.

That prose and poetry on my page isnt mine.

It was written by Shakespeare, Goethe, Sophocles, and Nietzsche.

You said it was "OK" but a bit "elementary."

So what should any sensible person think of your characterization of Ginsbergh as a "Genius", when you can't even identify even 1 among 4 of the greatest men who ever walked the earth. This should make you blush. Shamelessness will get you through it.

[workorangeclock]

As long as "Howl" lives on in the spirit of the poet, who will never cease, Ginsberg shall never die. So what if he was gay, it seems that you are hating Ginsberg for reasons that lay in his homosexual nature, and that my dead hearted friend makes you a bigot. So dont be acute in mind and spirit silly little rabmunch, just sit back and dig it, for he knows time man, wowee, he knows time.....

[bryanschwor]

Rabmunch, what is with your Ginsberg hating? Every page that has mention of him on youtube you are here attacking him. Shit man, did he kill your dog or something?

[rabmunch]

Hatred? No. Contempt. Do you know what contempt is?

That is what Ginsberg deserves. Unending contempt.

[ddv13devo]

Rabmunch, I bet you've never read a Ginsberg poem in your life. It doesn't matter how Allen Ginsberg lived, what matters is that he left behind an amazing tome of poetry and songs for future generations to discover. So basically, it's quiet time for you.

[ddv13devo]

Apparently, you think that using "big boy words" makes you sound intelligent, because all I drew from your argument is "Ginsberg is a piece of shit". So let's make this simple: Ginsberg is a legend, you are garbage. And that's that.

[rabmunch]

You've perhaps got "big boys" on the brain.

Did you not understand my characterization of Ginsberg as man full of the spirit of resentment? His effect were far reaching. Burroughs taught him to rape little boys, and he found that it pleased him. Not even the gardens of Tiberias were this foul. I have said much more than you give me credit for. If Ginsberg is a legend , well then, SO IS JEFFREY DAHMER.

[Maxspatula]

I am sorry to disturb you and bring you back to this discussion, but you peak my interest. I understand your characterization of Ginzberg as a man full of the spirit of resentment. I understand that you think it is the inarticulate wail of a beast, although that inarticulate to me sounds too crude. Shakespeare, Wilde, Milton, these men had a great style and wordchoice, but there is the factor of time to consider.

Wilde, by the way, loved young boys too, and have you read "a portrait of H. W.?"

[auntbecky]

Yes, i've read "howl" and i love it....it's musical

[DesolationRow0]

absolutely genius

[Komputilo]

Ginsberg was indeed a brilliant man.

[evad6832]

Nicely done but the waits soundtrack is a bit distracting if ye dont mind me saying. The poem is the important though so thanks for putting it up.

[maha3003]

hahaha. i love the tags. "Go fuck yourself with your atomic bomb," is a an unforgettable line. Sigh. Ginsberg was a genius... even if he was high lol.

[ramblingvine]

Well, America certainly needs another Ginsberg. Which one of you angelic geniuses is going to step up?

[amandascenee]

Not many will, but we can hope.

[KeMonit0]

hahaha.. " the vermin rots from it's own pollution.. The Kustlars..the Hoffmans... the Ginsebergs, the Learys,the Warhols... All gone to hell... The vermin... the vermin... are dying... yeheeyyy..." from the beautiful poem titled "Scowl" By Dr. Michael Savage. watch it at: youtube. com/watch?v=Pl9kc6aq_KQ

[mharvill8674]

first time i heard this i wept...tom waits on piano btw

[hemightbegiant]

Ahh, Ginsberg's "America"

'Tis indeed the greatest critique of the U.S., that isn't built on invasion of Iraq, anyway.

[ChainCraig]

The Savage Weiner's ass master bud speaks! I haven't seen so many of God's Chosen together since I viewed a vid of the 2007 AIPAC conclave. It's a saver.

[morrisssey]

have we learnerd any thing people wake up please this is greatness put in front of us. its a mind fuck.....

[synesthesiashley]

Pretty good actually. Ginsberg was a brilliant man.

[ldw2007]

Oh my lord, this is fucking great.

[storybeliever]

nice tags.

[SoulQuest7]

I think the soundtrack is drowning out the poem. Too bad.

[stevenaball333]

im speechless.

[KaneCyber]

GREAT POEM!!! ALLIN WAS THE BEST!

[dlrjr3000]

... her needs big niggers, her make indian learn read... i miss burroughs, i miss ginsberg. i am welled up with tears right now. i thank you for that.

[dlrjr3000]

i'm glad i found this. i play it whenever tears need to be cried.

[supershining13]

this is beautiful

[paulhoward3000]

a beautiful creation.

[implementdesign]

Ginsberg+Waits=love

[Lisenfisen]

touche'!! :D