“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg (1956)

Lauded as one of the greatest achievements in American verse, Ginsberg’s most influential poem is a powerful exploration of culture, the mind, and society. The poem relies on Ginsberg and Kerouac’s first thought/best thought spontaneous style. The first section of the poem focuses on the exploits of Ginsberg and his friends, but it presents image after image of people who are lost and who have been battered by society. The second section places blame for all of the societal and psychological problems Ginsberg identified in the first part of the poem. Ginsberg blames Molach, a demon, for the problems, and he identifies many social forces influenced by Moloch, including capitalism. The final section narrates a journey to a friend, Carl Solomon. This section explores the psychological effects of the first two stanzas and shows the brotherhood between Ginsberg and Solomon. The poem is long, complicated, and full of allusions to personal and public things, but regardless of its difficulty, its passion is tangible. It is also a perfect example of Ginsberg’s poetic style with its long lines, fragmented narrative, explicitness, and sporadic associations.

“Kaddish” by Allen Ginsberg (1961)

Ginsberg’s other epic masterpiece, this poem focuses much more on personal imagery and themes than “Howl.