The Grave of Allen Ginsberg

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.

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.

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7 Responses to The Grave of Allen Ginsberg

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 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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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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- Bartholomew Barker says:
  
  2022/08/08 at 10:26
  
  Thanks, JM. He lived quite a life! I’ve learned a lot from Ginsberg this year. I also re-watched that Howl movie with James Franco. It gets better with each viewing too.
  
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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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- Bartholomew Barker says:
  
  2022/08/08 at 20:52
  
  Wow. That must’ve been “interesting”.
  
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