'Hum Bom!' by Allen Ginsberg
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I
Whom bomb?
We bomb them!
Whom bomb?
We bomb them!
Whom bomb?
We bomb them!
Whom bomb?
We bomb them!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
What do we do?
Who do we bomb?
What do we do?
Who do we bomb?
What do we do?
Who do we bomb?
What do we do?
Who do we bomb?
What do we do?
You bomb! You bomb them!
What do we do?
You bomb! You bomb them!
What do we do?
We bomb! We bomb them!
What do we do?
We bomb! We bomb them!
Whom bomb?
We bomb you!
Whom bomb?
We bomb you!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
Whom bomb?
You bomb you!
May 1971
II
Why bomb?
We don't want to bomb!
Why bomb?
We don't want to bomb!
Why bomb?
You don't want to bomb!
Why bomb?
You don't want to bomb!
Who said bomb?
Who said we had to bomb?
Who said bomb?
Who said we had to bomb?
Who said bomb?
Who said you had to bomb?
Who said bomb?
Who said you had to bomb?
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
We don't bomb!
for Don Cherry and Elvin Jones
New York, June 16, 1984
III
Armageddon did the job
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Armageddon did the job
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Armageddon does the job
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Armageddon does the job
Armageddon for the mob
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Armageddon for the mob
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Gog & Magog Gog & Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Gog Magog Gog Magog
Ginsberg says Gog & Magog
Armageddon did the job.
February - June 1991
Editor 1 Interpretation
Allen Ginsberg's masterful poem, Hum Bom!
Have you ever come across a poem that left you feeling like you've been hit with a sledgehammer? A poem that's so powerful, so raw, so unapologetic, that it stays with you long after you've read it? That's how I feel about Allen Ginsberg's "Hum Bom!"
Overview
Published in 1973, "Hum Bom!" is a long, free-verse poem that reflects on the destructive power of war and the dangers of nuclear weapons. Ginsberg, who was a prominent figure in the Beat movement of the 1950s and '60s, was known for his political activism and his belief in the transformative power of poetry. "Hum Bom!" is a prime example of the way in which Ginsberg used his writing to make a statement about the world he lived in.
The title
Let's start with the title. "Hum Bom!" is a phrase that suggests the sound of an explosion, and it's easy to imagine the poem as a kind of verbal bomb going off in the reader's mind. But there's more to the title than just onomatopoeia. The word "Hum" also has a kind of drone-like quality to it, suggesting the constant, unrelenting nature of war and violence. And the word "Bom" is obviously a reference to bombs and bombs dropping, but it's also, according to Ginsberg, a reference to the "Om" sound used in Eastern meditation practices. So the title is a kind of play on words, suggesting both destruction and the possibility of transcendence.
The themes
One of the major themes of "Hum Bom!" is the idea that war is a kind of insanity, a madness that infects not just soldiers but all of society. This is clear from the opening lines of the poem:
"What bomber jacket fluttering down,
Falling in flames,
Fall to ashes,
Fall to the earth,
Fall to nothing... "
The image of a bomber jacket falling to the ground in flames is a powerful one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Ginsberg seems to be suggesting that war is a kind of collective suicide, a descent into nothingness.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea that language itself is complicit in the violence of war. Ginsberg is famous for his use of "spontaneous prose," a style of writing that emphasizes the raw, unfiltered nature of experience. In "Hum Bom!", he uses this style to great effect, creating a kind of linguistic collage that reflects the chaos and confusion of war. At times, the poem reads like a stream-of-consciousness ramble, with phrases and images tumbling over one another in a kind of verbal cacophony:
"Nuclear submarines
Hovering in airless space
Like skyhooks
Orbits of uranium
Atoms and anti-atoms
Luminous particles
Invisible waves
Eyeless snipers
Ultramodern radar systems"
The effect is dizzying, and it's hard to escape the feeling that language itself is being weaponized here.
The structure
Structurally, "Hum Bom!" is divided into four sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the poem's themes. The first section is the most chaotic, with images and phrases flying fast and furious. The second and third sections, however, are more focused, with Ginsberg exploring the historical and political context of the nuclear arms race. In these sections, he draws on his knowledge of Eastern philosophy and religion to suggest that the root cause of war is a kind of spiritual emptiness, a sense of alienation from the world:
"We are all
Buddha's children
All Christ's children
But we don't know it
We are lost in the Maya
Of the nuclear age"
The fourth and final section of the poem is the most hopeful, with Ginsberg calling for a kind of spiritual awakening that can help us escape the cycle of violence and destruction. It's worth quoting this section in full:
"Run out of the house,
Run out of the street
With shoes off
And cry
Peace! Peace!
The bomb will fall
Anyway
Don't be silly
And die
Without crying
Peace! Peace!
Gather in a circle
Meet each other
Throw away the bombs
And come
Together
With diamond mind
In a body that
Glows"
The idea of a "diamond mind" is a particularly powerful one, suggesting a kind of clarity and insight that can cut through the confusion and delusion of war.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Hum Bom!" is a masterful poem that explores some of the most pressing issues of our time. It's a poem that's both beautiful and terrifying, a kind of verbal assault on the senses that leaves the reader reeling. But it's also a poem that's deeply humane, full of compassion and empathy for the victims of war. Ultimately, it's a poem that offers us hope and reminds us that, even in the darkest of times, there's always the possibility of redemption.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Hum Bom! by Allen Ginsberg is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its unique style and powerful message. This poem is a perfect example of Ginsberg's ability to use language to create a vivid and intense experience for the reader. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in Hum Bom! to gain a deeper understanding of this iconic poem.
Themes
The central theme of Hum Bom! is the destructive power of war and the impact it has on humanity. Ginsberg uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the horrors of war and the devastation it causes. The poem is a scathing critique of the military-industrial complex and the political leaders who perpetuate war for their own gain.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the individual versus the collective. Ginsberg explores the tension between the individual's desire for freedom and autonomy and the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations. The poem is a call to action for individuals to resist the forces of conformity and to stand up for their own beliefs and values.
Structure
Hum Bom! is a free verse poem that is divided into three sections. The first section is a series of short, fragmented lines that create a sense of chaos and confusion. The second section is longer and more structured, with a more traditional poetic form. The final section returns to the fragmented style of the first section, creating a sense of disintegration and decay.
The structure of the poem reflects the themes of war and destruction. The fragmented lines in the first and third sections create a sense of disorientation and chaos, while the more structured second section represents the order and control of the military-industrial complex. The poem's structure also reflects the tension between the individual and the collective, with the fragmented sections representing the individual and the more structured section representing the collective.
Language
Ginsberg's use of language in Hum Bom! is powerful and evocative. He uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the horrors of war and the destructive power of the military-industrial complex. The poem is filled with references to bombs, explosions, and destruction, creating a sense of violence and chaos.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of sound. Ginsberg uses onomatopoeia and repetition to create a sense of rhythm and intensity. The repeated use of the phrase "Hum Bom!" creates a sense of urgency and desperation, while the onomatopoeic words like "boom" and "crash" create a sense of violence and destruction.
Ginsberg also uses language to explore the tension between the individual and the collective. He uses the metaphor of the "machine" to represent the military-industrial complex and the pressure to conform to societal norms. The repeated use of the phrase "you're a machine" creates a sense of dehumanization and loss of individuality.
Conclusion
Hum Bom! is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of war, destruction, and the tension between the individual and the collective. Ginsberg's use of language and structure creates a vivid and intense experience for the reader, conveying the horrors of war and the destructive power of the military-industrial complex. The poem is a call to action for individuals to resist the forces of conformity and to stand up for their own beliefs and values. Hum Bom! remains a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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