I've Seen the Best Poem of Their Generation Turn Fifty

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg turns 50! Published in 1955 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (for City Lights), the poem, while still retaining a considerable amount of power, would not stir up the same controversy today.

Then again, America seems to be being steered back into a more sexually and intellectually repressed direction, so perhaps the poem is more shocking and unacceptable today than it was, say, 8 years ago. I don't know.

Just read it.

Or listen to it (he starts reading it about 41 minutes in).

AND purchase a copy. To have and share.

More on Howl:

Krassner reflects on Ginsberg

Howl celebrations