irectly addresses the reader, or in this case, his mother. It is also seen as an autobiographical elegy that reveals many private experiences which shaped Ginsbergs life and a confession of personal necessity. Kaddish, the term, comes from a Judaic prayer and suggests the poem is in memory of his mother. Kaddish becomes a song for the dead indicated by the first six words: Strange now to think of you. This indicates one of the poemss themes, his mother. For instance, it is written, Death is that remedy all singers dream of (Litz 319). The singer represents the poet and his own turmoil. The fourth section, Lament, is a list of regrets for his mother, illustrating his obsession with her. The fifth, called Litany, reiterates major episodes of Naomis sickness. Finally, the fifth section of Kaddish, Fugue, represents his own turmoil of emotion and problems which render the poet incapable of articulating anything other than the poems ending, Lord Lord Lord caw caw caw Lord Lord Lord caw caw caw (Charters 98). Howl also describes Ginsbergs own mental problems shown when he locates the core of corruption as a monster of mental consciousness (Ginsberg 48), or Moloch, a Fire God. This part of the poem is written in chaotic chants. Ginsbergs poems about his childhood express the value that Beat writers are very tired people-tired of living before one has started living (Charters XXIV) forced upon Ginsberg by his mother and his own mental problems.In the same way Ginsbergs poems were stemmed from his childhood, many were stemmed from his undying curiosity. In 1943, he entered Columbia University intending to become a labor lawyer. Though, he soon fell in love with a group of wild students and non students including Lucien C...
