Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Allen Ginsberg's "Beginning of a Poem of These States" is an expansive and reflective journey across the American landscape, capturing the poet's observations and musings as he travels through various states. The poem is rich with vivid imagery, personal reflections, and social commentary, blending the natural beauty of the land with the harsh realities of modern America. Written as a memento for Gary Snyder, the poem resonates with themes of environmental consciousness, historical reflection, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

The poem opens with a serene image of nature, "Under the blu s of Oroville, blue cloud September skies, entering U.S. border, red red apples bend their tree boughs propt with sticks," setting a tranquil tone. This initial calmness is soon contrasted by the gritty, human elements as Ginsberg describes scenes like "A fat girl in dungarees leads her big brown horse by asphalt highway" and "white horse standing back of a 2 ton truck moving forward between trees." These images juxtapose the purity of nature with the encroachments of human activity, highlighting the tension between the two.

As Ginsberg moves through various locations, he encounters markers of history and industry. The reference to Chief Joseph’s grave at Nespelem and the "giant red generators humm thru granite & concrete to materialize onions" at Grand Coulee reflects a landscape shaped by both natural and industrial forces. The quiet power of nature is embodied in "Dry Falls 40 Niagaras stand silent & invisible," while human intervention is depicted in the hum of generators and the "gray water laps against the gray sides of Steamboat Mesa."

The poet’s journey is also a journey through American culture and media. As he drives, the car radio becomes a soundtrack to the nation's soul, playing songs like "The Eve of Destruction and The Universal Soldier," reflecting the turbulent political climate of the 1960s. Bob Dylan’s voice emerges as a symbol of the mass-produced folk music that unites individual experiences into a collective consciousness. Ginsberg’s observation, "Radio the soul of the nation," underscores the profound impact of media on the national psyche.

Ginsberg’s reflections on historical figures, such as Lewis and Clark, further ground the poem in a broader historical context. His line "Searching neither for Northwest Passage, nor Gold, nor the Prophet who will save the polluted Nation," juxtaposes past explorers' quests with the modern search for solutions to environmental and social crises. This historical consciousness is intertwined with personal and contemporary observations, creating a rich tapestry of American life.

Throughout the poem, Ginsberg’s encounters with nature are poignant and detailed. The descriptions of "Cold night in Blue Mountains, snow-powdered tops of droopy Tamarack and Fir at gray sunrise," and "Sparse juniper forests on dry lavender hills, down Ritter Butte to Pass Creek" capture the beauty and harshness of the American wilderness. These natural scenes are often contrasted with human-made elements, such as "Mud plate of Black Rock Desert passing, Frank Sinatra lamenting distant years," blending the timelessness of nature with the transient nature of human culture.

Ginsberg’s journey culminates in a return to urbanity, specifically San Francisco. The poem’s final stanzas reflect a transition from the natural to the urban, with vivid descriptions of city life: "thousands of red tail lights move in procession over Bay Bridge, San Francisco stands on modern hills, Broadway lights ash the center gay honkytonk Elysium." This return to the city is marked by a mix of nostalgia and realism, acknowledging both the allure and the challenges of urban life.

The poem closes with a reflection on the inevitability of change and the poet’s acceptance of his journey. "Home riding home to old city on ocean with new mantra to manifest Removal of Disaster from my self," suggests a desire for personal and collective redemption. Ginsberg’s chant to Shiva in the car-cabin signifies a spiritual quest amidst the material world, a search for meaning in a landscape marked by both beauty and destruction.

In "Beginning of a Poem of These States," Allen Ginsberg masterfully weaves together personal reflections, historical consciousness, and vivid imagery to create a rich, multifaceted portrayal of America. The poem captures the complexity of the American experience, blending the natural and the industrial, the historical and the contemporary, the personal and the collective. Through his journey, Ginsberg offers a meditation on the enduring power of nature, the impact of human activity, and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world.

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