Allen Ginsberg

Official tumblr for the visionary Beat Poet, Buddhist, Anti-war Activist, Gay, Pacifist, Photographer, Allen Ginsberg. Managed by his estate.

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In North Cascades Park, Washington State, early September 1965, snapped by either Gary Snyder or Martine Algier, from a cache of color slides we recently unearthed. Courtesy Ginsberg Estate.

Allen’s journal entry from that week: Up early ate & climbed thru long plateau forest by white church river till we came to great meadows walled with brown ashen cone on one side and snow botched grey ridge on the other—White Mt.—to a place called White Pass, a hill saddle 6400 feet where standing we could look back on the ridges sunning up the glacier peak, and on the other side west we could see great ranges of glacial mountains—craggy in clear afternoon light stretching from one end of the Horizon to another

from Fall of America Journals, 1965-1971, paperback due out this Fall from University of Minnesota Press.

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Philip Whalen, Sensei, visiting Naropa, July 1984, Andy Clausen’s recent poetry book under his thumb on table. He’d come from San Francisco, was on his way to help form Zen Center in Santa Fe, N.M. (photo & caption: Allen Ginsberg) An early captioned print, before Allen settled on limiting the caption to the bottom of the photo. #philipwhalen #zencenter #bakerroshi #poetrycommunity #beatgeneration #andyclausen #naropauniversity #naropaswp (at Boulder, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjRDrFRvEFk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Ken Kesey—Merry Pranksters’ day-glo painted “Further” cross-country bus Neal Cassady’d driven S.F. to Manhattan, L.S.D. cool-aid pitcher in icebox for local hitchhikers and Police, here stopped for gas lunch upstate on trip to Timothy Leary’s Millbrook n.y. psychedelic research commune just before election time, “A Vote For Barry Is A Vote for Fun” logo painted large across bustop side, Goldwater the libertarian Republican would-be Presidential candidate Hawk during Vietnam War, summer 1964. (photo and caption: Allen Ginsberg, courtesy National Gallery of Art / Allen Ginsberg Estate) #kenkesey #merrypranksters #lsd #beatgeneration #allenginsberg #timothyleary #nealcassady (at Poughkeepsie, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjJTem_vy3o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Rudy di Prima (Diane’s son) & William Burroughs demonstrating pistol-lighter, probably at Bataan & Jane Faigao's Tai Chi house, Boulder Colorado July 1984. (Photo & Caption: Allen Ginsberg) note: Jane & Battan Faigao were founders of the Traditional Eastern Arts program as well as tai-chi professors at Naropa, hence ‘tai-chi house’ and hosted many a reception and guest at their home a few blocks away from the school. #RudyDiPrima #dianediprima #williamsburroughs #beatgeneration #writers #bataanfaigao (at Boulder, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBmEWLv-et/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Gary Snyder, Prototype of Kerouac's “Dharma Bums” (1957) fictional hero, 8 day backpack climbing in wilderness area of Northern Cascades, Glacier Peak, Washington State, Gary back from a near-decade in Kyoto studying & practicing Zazen. My first mountain walk. My first mountain walk, August 1965. [Photo & caption: Allen Ginsberg courtesy Allen Ginsberg Estate & Stanford University Libraries] #garysnyder #allenginsberg #martinealgier #northcascades #glacierpeak #kodachrome #dharmabums #japhyryder #jackkerouac #mountainsandriverswithoutend #earthhousehold #turtleisland #northcascades #northcascadesnationalpark (at North Cascades National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CinJkg4u9yN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Jello Biafra (née Eric Boucher), head of Dead Kennedys rock band and San Francisco’s Alternative Tentacles label & distribution network, visiting New York after obscenity trial (won by hung jury) over art illustrations to his “Frankenchrist” album. "Nazi Punks Fuck Off," and “ Too Drunk to Fuck," were early underground hits late 1970’s. He was on tour, lecturing on Reagan-era censorship moves, here “rebounding from the want-ads, surprised scrutinized by candid surveillance camera,” his open briefcase on chair in small bedroom behind, pens clasped to strap, old backstage tour passes posted inside late-night tea, recovering from flu, October 6, 1987. [Photo & Caption: Allen Ginsberg] #jellobiafra #deadkennedys #frankenchrist #poetrycommunity #nazipunksfuckoff #toodrunktofuck #censorship #pmrc #hrgeiger #geiger (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ciik-9aPnlE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Elvin Jones, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, late May 1984, Robert Frank's Polaroid #195 camera he let me use. We were all teaching together at Atlantic Center for the Arts. (photo & caption: Allen Ginsberg) The mighty Elvin Jones was born on this day in Pontiac Michigan, 1927, & would have been 95. Happy Birthday Elvin! #elvinjones #allenginsberg #robertfrank #johncoltraneqartet #jazzlegends #jazzdrummer #polaroid (at New Smyrna Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiTUhTvPPEb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On the Charles Bridge, Prague, March 1965. Snapped by a friend, with Allen’s camera. Courtesy Ginsberg Collection I hide under the clock near my hotel, it’s intermission for Tales of Hoffmann, nostalgia for the 19th century rides through my heart like the music of The Moldau, I’m still alone with long black beard and shining eyes walking down black smoky tramcar streets at night past royal muscular statues on an old stone bridge, Over the river again today in Breughel’s wintry city, the snow is white on all the rooftops of Prague, Salute beloved comrade I’ll send you my tears from Moscow. -Prague March 1965, from “Message II” PLANET NEWS City Lights, 1968/ COLLECTED POEMS 2007 #prague #praha #allenginsberg #poetrycommunity #beatgeneration (at Charles Bridge Prague) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiDAr11uxat/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Remembering photographer Harold Chapman who passed away earlier this month at his home in Kent, UK at the age of 95. Best known for his iconic photos of the 9 Rue Gît-le-Cœur, later known as the Beat Hotel, where he lived for 5 years photographing its inhabitants who included William S Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Ian Sommerville, Gregory Corso, Harold Norse, Peter Orlovsky and of course Allen. He was in fact the last resident to vacate in 1963 when it changed owners (it’s now 4.5 star hotel ‘Relais Hôtel du Vieux Paris’)   In those days it was 1 pound sterling a day..and filled with penniless students.    Photo: Peter Orlovsky & Allen Ginsberg, Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, Paris, December 1957, by Harold Chapman  (theomcgallery.com)  #haroldchapman #beathotel #paris #beatgeneration #allenginsberg #peterorlovsky #williamsburroughs #gregorycorso (at Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch7_AfSP1LI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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View out my kitchen window August 18, 1984, familiar Manhattan backyard, wet brick-walled Atlantis sea garden's ailanthus (stinkweed Tree of Heaven) boughs waving in rainy breeze, Stuyvesant Town's apartment roof two blocks north on 14th Street -- I focused on the raindrops on the clothesline. [photo & caption: Allen Ginsberg] #poetrycommunity #allenginsberg #beatgeneration #newyorkcity #americanphotography #lowereastside (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChvOxqGvFfY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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At Jay DeFeo's studio, near Fillmore Street, San Francisco, 1959, photo shoot for Fantasy Records’ Howl and Other Poems released later that year. These were never used. Photo: Chester Kessler. #allenginsberg #jayDeFeo #chesterkessler #sanfrancisco #beatgeneration #howlandotherpoems (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chskz1uvIXn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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William S Burroughs,  Allen’s last visit to Lawrence, KS,  November 4, 1996, and one of Allen’s last photos of William.  Hard to believe it’s been 25 years since he passed away in 1997. From his last journals, which lines we’ve posted before, but never tire of reading: May 31, Saturday: That vile salamander Gingrich, squeaker of the House, is slobbering about a drug-free America by the year 2001. What a dreary prospect!... How I hate those who are dedicated to producing conformity. For what purpose? Imagine the barren banality of a drug-free America... The entire area of dissent exorcised like a boil... How good will it be to have total conformity? What will be left of singularity? And personality? And you and me?... June 6, Clom Fliday: I wonder about the future of the novel or any writing. Where can it go? After Conrad, Rimbaud, Genet, Beckett...and... Paul Bowles and Jane Bowles. With Paul there was a sinister darkness like underdeveloped film.... What is left to say? Oh, I forgot Graham Greene. "The Power and the Glory." ...He killed himself with vanity and self-inflation and then the balloon ruptured... Back to writing... Maybe, on the basic level of truth, there just isn't any more to say... Why go on?... August 1, Fliday: Love? What is it? Most natural painkiller. What there is. LOVE. Last Words: The Final Journals of William S. Burroughs  (Grove Press, 2000) #williamsburroughs #grovepress #lastwords #beatgeneration #writersofinstagram (at Lawrence, Kansas) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgxm4crLB-m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Performing “Birdbrain” with The Gluons, bassist Ted Wahl behind him, at Denver’s now defunct legendary punk club, Wallaby’s, August 1981 (photographer unknown / courtesy Ginsberg collection) Birdbrain runs the World! Birdbrain is the ultimate product of Capitalism Birdbrain chief bureaucrat of Russia, yawning Birdbrain ran FBI 30 years appointed by F. D. Roosevelt and never chased Cosa Nostra! Birdbrain apportions wheat to be burned, keep prices up on the world market! Birdbrain lends money to Developing Nation police-states thru the International Monetary Fund!“Birdbrain never gets laid on his own he depends on his office to pimp for him Birdbrain offers brain transplants in Switzerland Birdbrain wakes up in middle of night and arranges his sheets I am Birdbrain! (Birdbrain was released in 1981 as a 7” on Alekos Records, with Sue Your Parents on the B side, and produced by Mike Chapelle. It later appeared in “Holy Soul Jelly Roll “4 cd set, produced by Hal Willner) #birdbrain #poetrycommunity #allenginsberg #halwillner #thegluons #denverpunkscene (at Denver, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgnFaKGv_Zg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Poster from the Jack Kerouac Conference, July 23-August 1, 1982, 40 years ago this week.

The conference marked the 25th anniversary of the publication of ON THE ROAD and was nearly thirteen years after Jack passed away. #williamsburroughs #kerouacconference #naropauniversity #carlsolomon #jackkerouac #peterorlovsky #allenginsberg #beatgeneration #robertfrank #carlsolomon #ontheroad #lawrenceferlinghetti #gregorycorso #bouldercolorado #ontheroad (at Boulder, Colorado) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgcw9PdPHYk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Allen with Baul singer, Purna Das, Kolkata, September 1971, at the time of Allen’s visit to the Jessore Road Bangladeshi refugee camps. (photographer unknown. Ginsberg Collection)

Allen had met Purna Das’ father, the legendary Baul Nabani Das (gravely ill at the time) in 1962. It was Purna Das who introduced Baul singing to the world through Bob Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman, who phoned him during a visit to Kolkata in 1967 (he said he got Purna’s number from Allen!) inviting him to the US. This precipitated a tour and a record deal, “Bauls of Bengal”(Elektra) He also graces the cover of Dylan’s 1967 John Wesley Harding.

Bauls are wandering minstrels from the Bengal region straddling the Bangladesh-India border. Admired by Tagore for whom the word Baul meant ‘madcap’ or nonconformist, & certainly admired by Allen whose later poem “After Lalon Shah”, an homage to the legendary Baul saint, Lalon Fakir (Shah), is an imitation in the traditional style of Baul songs, humorously conveying the hard truths of life.

#purnadasbaul #baul #baulsong #bobdyaln #albertgrossman #lalonfakir #lalonshah #bangladesh #bengal #westbengal #tagore #jessoreroad #septemberonjessoreroad (at Kolkata India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgXBCofOlJG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Allen at work on the typewriter at his farm house in Cherry Valley, New York, September 1973. (Photographer unknown Courtesy Ginsberg Collection)

“Criminal possession of a controlled substance—    

 Marijuana” came over the radio

I got mad & sent Gov. Rockefeller a

     crystal skull postcard

from “News Bulletin,” Cherry Valley, September 1973 (Mind Breaths Poems 1973-1977. City Lights) (at Cherry Valley, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgFGTp9r3fV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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William S Burroughs with Alan Ansen (whom Allen described as an “eccentric expatriate, Harvard educated polymath, secretary Amanuensis to W.H.Auden in early ‘40s Age of Anxiety, also helped type/edit Burroughs’ Naked Lunch & other mss. Tangier 1957-61 on visits.) Snapped by Allen outside the San Remo Cafe, their regular hangout, McDougal Street,  Greenwich Village Fall 1953. This is an alternate of a better known photo of the two.

NYC historian John Joseph writes: The “Remo”, as it was affectionately called, was part of the trifecta of the hippest bars in Greenwich Village that included the Kettle of Fish and Minetta Tavern down the street – places with legendary customers and stories of their own. Unlike the White Horse Tavern whose clientele consisted mainly of the radicals of the 1930s and 40s, the San Remo catered more to this new disaffected generation of artists and writers reacting to the sterile atmosphere of Eisenhower-era America.  Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, James Baldwin, Frank O’Hara and Gore Vidal were just a handful of this new crop making the San Remo their headquarters to shake things up. It was here that Ginsberg first met Dylan Thomas and in the early 1950s Judith Malina and Julian Beck’s Living Theatre often met and partied here while the troupe was housed nearby at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

#williamsburroughs #alanansen #nakedlunch #thenakedlunch #thesanremo #sanremo #dylanthomas #beatgeneration #thelivingtheater

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