In 1987 there was an event reuniting the Beat Poets for a week-long series of performances, exhibitions, and happenings in the Midwest. William Burroughs lived in Lawrence, Kansas at the time, and Allen Ginsberg thought it would be a good time to call all of the troops home for a reunion in Burrows’ honor. It was their own Woodstock, bringing people together from all over the country for a celebration of the impact their work and courage brought to a generation of artists, authors, and painters.
Ginsberg was involved in the Jack Kerouac Institute for Disembodied Poetics in Boulder, Colorado, which he founded with Anne Waldman and others. Part of their curriculum was meditation, and I learned to meditate with Ginsberg on the lawn of the University of Kansas campus during the event.
For his presentation Ginsberg recited his seminal poem “Howl” as a 20 minute soliloquy. It is considered one of the most important pieces of American poetry of the last century. I have a copy of the seven page first draft loaded in my Royal typewriter.
Attached is a signed poster of the event, featuring a Bowie-Knife-toting rustic and a hirsute poet, sharing a beer. Artwork by S. Clay Wilson.
Attached is a video of Allen Ginsberg performing “Father Death Blues”. His rendition at the Reunion with Steven Taylor on guitar was a highlight for me.
Allen Ginsberg reading at the Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, October 25 1956, shortly after its publication.
Following is a link to the book River City Reunion Revisited and photos on the web by photographer Rosemary Marchetta. In the photo are artist Keith Haring on the left, and poet and activist Allen Ginsberg on the right.
Her beautiful book can be purchased at:
http://www.rivercityreunion.com/index.html
From her website, below is a list of some who were present that week. It reads like a Who’s Who of the genre.
