Bartholomew Barker, Poet

I must admit, I haven’t really read anything Allen Ginsberg wrote besides “Howl”.

“Howl” is such a masterpiece, the seminal work of the Beats, that even if he’d put his pen down after it, he would be remembered for as long as humans are speaking English and quite probably longer.

For those who wish to visit his grave, I would suggest flying into Newark Liberty International Airport then take the shuttle to the Hilton Newark Airport hotel. B’Nai Israel Cemetery is an easy walk from there on Mount Olivet Avenue, adjacent to the Gomel Chesed Cemetery.

Mr. Ginsberg’s grave is nearer the back fence than the front gate but still pretty easy to find.

By the way, his epitaph is the final stanza from his poem “Father Death Blues“.

Earlier this year, I wrote a 21st Century Howl, stealing his best ideas in a pathetic attempt to update them for our situation. I’ve also been trying to come up with an edit of “Howl” that I could read in a normal open mic set length of five to seven minutes but I can’t do it. There’s just too much in there that still demands to be heard.