The Grave of Allen Ginsberg

Posted on 2022-08-07 by Bartholomew Barker

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.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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7 Responses to The Grave of Allen Ginsberg

  1. pensivepoetblog's avatar pensivepoetblog says:
    2022-08-08 at 01:16

    I didn’t know Ginsberg was that close with Dylan. I mean like it says the folk era was coming in and the beat era was out. That goes back to 7th grade. I like how a lot of the footage in that short was black and white. Nice spotlight back to the sixties and beyond.

    Thanks, M

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    • Bartholomew Barker's avatar Bartholomew Barker says:
      2022-08-08 at 10:18

      Yeah, sometimes I wish I’d be alive back then to see the Beats. If I ever get access to a backwards time machine, my first destination is Ginsberg’s first reading of Howl at the City Lights. Imagine sharing a jug of wine with Cassady, Ginsberg and Kerouac!

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  2. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2022-08-08 at 03:12

    Nice tribute to the man. I re-read the Wiki page about him since you put the link here. An incredible human being and poet. His poem, Father Death Blues, (thanks for the link) is so poignant and memorable. And, I re-read you Howl inspired poem. You have done well by Mr. Ginsberg.

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  3. Pingback: The Grave of William Carlos Williams | Bartholomew Barker, Poet

  4. mbrazfieldm's avatar mbrazfieldm says:
    2022-08-08 at 20:47

    thank you for sharing this friend I was living in Frisco when he passed it was Zen like right outside of City Lights till this day i wonder….

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