poetry. Although critics most of the critics did not like it, millions of people have read "Howl." Ginsbergs cynical out look on American society did not just stop with "Howl," he used other poems to express his anger."America" was a poem written about America. "America Ive given you all and now Im nothing" this was Allens attitude through the whole piece. He goes on to explain the change in the American dream, and how society truly was. He did not live in a ferry tale world; he exposed faults and inequalities in America. A closely related poem to "America" was "Death To Van Goughs Ear." Here Allen scoffs at America and its imperialistic view of the world in the 1950s. He sends a message that the government lies to the US citizens, and what people see as so beautiful is not beautiful at all; it is a manifestation of Lucifer. This distrust was a dominating theme in his writings in the 50s-60s, as so was the governments distrust in its citizens. In 1956, Allens mother died at Greystone Sanitarium. When his mother died, he was in Hawaii working with the Merchant Marines, so Louis Ginsberg sent the sad message to Peter Orlovsky. When Allen came home to Berkeley, Peter gave him the message. Allen walked out into the garden and started writing the "Kaddish." After staying up for 40 hours straight on Benzedrine and other various drugs, he finished the poem. It was the finest work he ever did. Even compared to "Howl," this poem showed his passion and sorrow.And how Death is that remedy all singers dream of, sing, remember, prophesy as in the Hebrew Anthem, or the Buddhist Book of Answers-and my own imagination of a withered leaf-at dawn-The poem leaves the reader in a trance. The power of the poem is like a tractor beam; it draws the reader in and it wont let go. He makes the poem so successful, because everyone that reads it can identify with the reflection upon a loved one. Feeling that his poems were not reaching out to...
