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lucazani11's review
4.0
AMERICA
"America" is a poem by the American poet Allen Ginsberg, written in 1956. It is a political and social commentary on the United States during the mid-20th century. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which expresses different aspects of Ginsberg's critique of America.
In the first part of the poem, Ginsberg expresses his frustration with the country's politics and the hypocrisy of its leaders. He criticizes the government for its involvement in the Cold War and its treatment of African Americans. The lines "America, I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel" and "America, when will you be angelic?" suggest that Ginsberg is trying to push America in a better direction, but he is met with resistance.
The second part of the poem is a personal account of Ginsberg's experiences in a mental institution. He uses this experience to comment on the state of mental health care in the country. He criticizes the institutions for their use of drugs to control patients and the dehumanizing treatment of patients.
In the final part of the poem, Ginsberg expresses his hope for a better America. He calls for a revolution and an end to capitalism. He expresses his desire for a society based on love and understanding, rather than greed and materialism.
Overall, "America" is a critique of the United States during the mid-20th century. Ginsberg uses his poetry to express his frustration with the country's politics, social inequalities, and the dehumanization of its citizens. While the poem is critical, it is also hopeful. Ginsberg believes that America has the potential to be better and calls on its citizens to work towards a better future.
"America" is a poem by the American poet Allen Ginsberg, written in 1956. It is a political and social commentary on the United States during the mid-20th century. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which expresses different aspects of Ginsberg's critique of America.
In the first part of the poem, Ginsberg expresses his frustration with the country's politics and the hypocrisy of its leaders. He criticizes the government for its involvement in the Cold War and its treatment of African Americans. The lines "America, I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel" and "America, when will you be angelic?" suggest that Ginsberg is trying to push America in a better direction, but he is met with resistance.
The second part of the poem is a personal account of Ginsberg's experiences in a mental institution. He uses this experience to comment on the state of mental health care in the country. He criticizes the institutions for their use of drugs to control patients and the dehumanizing treatment of patients.
In the final part of the poem, Ginsberg expresses his hope for a better America. He calls for a revolution and an end to capitalism. He expresses his desire for a society based on love and understanding, rather than greed and materialism.
Overall, "America" is a critique of the United States during the mid-20th century. Ginsberg uses his poetry to express his frustration with the country's politics, social inequalities, and the dehumanization of its citizens. While the poem is critical, it is also hopeful. Ginsberg believes that America has the potential to be better and calls on its citizens to work towards a better future.
evethingiread's review
3.0
Super quick read. Howl definitely needs another read, and so do his other poems. I can't help but see Allen, this lonely man who despises "the system", born in the mid 20s and experiencing the 50s and the political upheaval in America but the world in general, who can't stand how much people stand to lose because of the way "the system" is designed not for the people but really against them... His language tells me that he's angry, but sad and lonely.
Sadness overwhelms me after reading all the poems in this pocket series. Genius is always clouded with darkness, and that is depressing to say the least.
Sadness overwhelms me after reading all the poems in this pocket series. Genius is always clouded with darkness, and that is depressing to say the least.
isabela_bot's review
3.0
3.5 ⭐️
Disappointed, I think maybe I’m not intelectual enough to understand the meaning behind it. The American history part of it didn’t have much meaning to me as well. But I enjoyed his writing, especially the last poems and maybe would read his other works.
My favorite poem was SONG.
“for the burden of life is love”
“ I always wanted, to return
to the body
where I was born.”
Disappointed, I think maybe I’m not intelectual enough to understand the meaning behind it. The American history part of it didn’t have much meaning to me as well. But I enjoyed his writing, especially the last poems and maybe would read his other works.
My favorite poem was SONG.
“for the burden of life is love”
“ I always wanted, to return
to the body
where I was born.”
internetrex's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
karlicka's review
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
lisali's review
3.0
howl: okayish
„i saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked“
„where you imitate the shadow of my mother“
footnote to howl: lowkey good
„holy time in eternity holy eternity in time“
a supermarket in california: i hated it
transcription of organ music: okayish
sunflower sutra: not very remembarable
america: LOVED LOVED LOVED
„go fuck yourself with your atom bomb“
„everybody is serious but me.
it occurs to me that i am America.
I am talking to myself again“ AHHHHH
in the baggage room at greyhound: loved I & III
„the wage they pay us is too low to live on. tragedy reduced to numbers“
AN ASPHODEL: let me insert the whole thing because wow
SONG: same with an asphodel, i loved these two
„in solicitude in all the excellence of its excess“
WILD ORPHAN: it-poems with song & an asphodel
IN BACK OF THE REAL: me loved
„Yellow, yellow flower,
and flower of industry,
tough spiky ugly flower,
flower nonetheless,
with the form of the great yellow
Rose in your brain!
That is the flower of the World“
„i saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked“
„where you imitate the shadow of my mother“
footnote to howl: lowkey good
„holy time in eternity holy eternity in time“
a supermarket in california: i hated it
transcription of organ music: okayish
sunflower sutra: not very remembarable
america: LOVED LOVED LOVED
„go fuck yourself with your atom bomb“
„everybody is serious but me.
it occurs to me that i am America.
I am talking to myself again“ AHHHHH
in the baggage room at greyhound: loved I & III
„the wage they pay us is too low to live on. tragedy reduced to numbers“
AN ASPHODEL: let me insert the whole thing because wow
SONG: same with an asphodel, i loved these two
„in solicitude in all the excellence of its excess“
WILD ORPHAN: it-poems with song & an asphodel
IN BACK OF THE REAL: me loved
„Yellow, yellow flower,
and flower of industry,
tough spiky ugly flower,
flower nonetheless,
with the form of the great yellow
Rose in your brain!
That is the flower of the World“
ohclaire's review
2.0
I know it's an iconic collection but the only poem in here that I really care for is Supermarket in California.
tophat8855's review
2.0
I listened via Hoopla. It's not an audiobook there, but instead considered an album so you can only check it out for 1 week instead of 3, but you don't need 3 so it's fine.
It's performed by the author, and I do believe Howl could be performed well, but this recording was kind of crap, unless Ginsberg is always so monotone/shouty. Maybe that's the beat feel? I've seen better poetry recitations on youtube.
I give it 3 stars for its importance in history, but it's about on par with what everyone is producing these days, as opposed to really good work which is really good even decades and centuries later. I can read similar stuff, or better stuff on tumblr or twitter or onlyfans, let's be honest. So kudos to him for living in the right place and time, but if he wrote this today, it wouldn't get much attention.
It's performed by the author, and I do believe Howl could be performed well, but this recording was kind of crap, unless Ginsberg is always so monotone/shouty. Maybe that's the beat feel? I've seen better poetry recitations on youtube.
I give it 3 stars for its importance in history, but it's about on par with what everyone is producing these days, as opposed to really good work which is really good even decades and centuries later. I can read similar stuff, or better stuff on tumblr or twitter or onlyfans, let's be honest. So kudos to him for living in the right place and time, but if he wrote this today, it wouldn't get much attention.