Howl

written April 6, 2012, but not posted until today

In the library

I chose poetry and banned books

In just one volume

Alan Ginsburg’s Howl

I’ve never read it

But my friend

A sweet and lovely woman

Met Ginsburg years ago

At a reading of Howl

She has a signed copy in her basement

I read today that Daniel Radcliff

Will play his part in a new movie

I will read it at long last

I don’t know if I’ll think it brilliant

Or whether I’ll be turned off

But I’ll have read it

Which is more than I can say right now.

I’ve heard about Alan Ginsburg and his poem Howl for many years. I decided that the time had come for me to read it. After all, I’d be tackling a work of poetry and a banned book at the same time.

Talking with a friend about poetry and National Poetry Month I mentioned that I had finally read it and she asked me “what did you think of it?” I didn’t have an answer for that. Finally, I said “It was long.” She burst out laughing and we both agreed that wasn’t much of a recommendation.

Certainly the poem is striking and raw and full of the spirit of the times. I could feel myself transported to a different time. I found myself wishing that I could have edited it down to a page, maybe a page and a half. Made me think about going back and editing my own work more ruthlessly.

All the same, I’m glad I read it and know.