'America' by Allen Ginsberg
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America I've given you all and now I'm nothing.
America two dollars and twentyseven cents January
17, 1956.
I can't stand my own mind.
America when will we end the human war?
Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb.
I don't feel good don't bother me.
I won't write my poem till I'm in my right mind.
America when will you be angelic?
When will you take off your clothes?
When will you look at yourself through the grave?
When will you be worthy of your million Trotskyites?
America why are your libraries full of tears?
America when will you send your eggs to India?
I'm sick of your insane demands.
When can I go into the supermarket and buy what I
need with my good looks?
America after all it is you and I who are perfect not
the next world.
Your machinery is too much for me.
You made me want to be a saint.
There must be some other way to settle this argument.
Burroughs is in Tangiers I don't think he'll come back
it's sinister.
Are you being sinister or is this some form of practical
joke?
I'm trying to come to the point.
I refuse to give up my obsession.
America stop pushing I know what I'm doing.
America the plum blossoms are falling.
I haven't read the newspapers for months, everyday
somebody goes on trial for murder.
America I feel sentimental about the Wobblies.
America I used to be a communist when I was a kid
I'm not sorry.
I smoke marijuana every chance I get.
I sit in my house for days on end and stare at the roses
in the closet.
When I go to Chinatown I get drunk and never get laid.
My mind is made up there's going to be trouble.
You should have seen me reading Marx.
My psychoanalyst thinks I'm perfectly right.
I won't say the Lord's Prayer.
I have mystical visions and cosmic vibrations.
America I still haven't told you what you did to Uncle
Max after he came over from Russia.
I'm addressing you.
Are you going to let your emotional life be run by
Time Magazine?
I'm obsessed by Time Magazine.
I read it every week.
Its cover stares at me every time I slink past the corner
candystore.
I read it in the basement of the Berkeley Public Library.
It's always telling me about responsibility. Business-
men are serious. Movie producers are serious.
Everybody's serious but me.
It occurs to me that I am America.
I am talking to myself again.
Asia is rising against me.
I haven't got a chinaman's chance.
I'd better consider my national resources.
My national resources consist of two joints of
marijuana millions of genitals an unpublishable
private literature that goes 1400 miles an hour
and twenty-five-thousand mental institutions.
I say nothing about my prisons nor the millions of
underprivileged who live in my flowerpots
under the light of five hundred suns.
I have abolished the whorehouses of France, Tangiers
is the next to go.
My ambition is to be President despite the fact that
I'm a Catholic.
America how can I write a holy litany in your silly
mood?
I will continue like Henry Ford my strophes are as
individual as his automobiles more so they're
all different sexes.
America I will sell you strophes $2500 apiece $500
down on your old strophe
America free Tom Mooney
America save the Spanish Loyalists
America Sacco & Vanzetti must not die
America I am the Scottsboro boys.
America when I was seven momma took me to Com-
munist Cell meetings they sold us garbanzos a
handful per ticket a ticket costs a nickel and the
speeches were free everybody was angelic and
sentimental about the workers it was all so sin-
cere you have no idea what a good thing the
party was in 1835 Scott Nearing was a grand
old man a real mensch Mother Bloor made me
cry I once saw Israel Amter plain. Everybody
must have been a spy.
America you don't really want to go to war.
America it's them bad Russians.
Them Russians them Russians and them Chinamen.
And them Russians.
The Russia wants to eat us alive. The Russia's power
mad. She wants to take our cars from out our
garages.
Her wants to grab Chicago. Her needs a Red Readers'
Digest. Her wants our auto plants in Siberia.
Him big bureaucracy running our fillingsta-
tions.
That no good. Ugh. Him make Indians learn read.
Him need big black niggers. Hah. Her make us
all work sixteen hours a day. Help.
America this is quite serious.
America this is the impression I get from looking in
the television set.
America is this correct?
I'd better get right down to the job.
It's true I don't want to join the Army or turn lathes
in precision parts factories, I'm nearsighted and
psychopathic anyway.
America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.
Berkeley, January 17, 1956
Submitted by Angela Waddell
Editor 1 Interpretation
Exploring Allen Ginsberg's "America"
Allen Ginsberg's "America" is a thought-provoking poem that delves into the complexities of American society. The poem is a snapshot of the mid-20th century and the issues that plagued society at the time. Ginsberg's poem is a reflection of the angst, disillusionment, and frustration that many Americans felt at the time.
The poem is a blend of different elements, including polemic, satire, and meditation. Ginsberg uses these different elements to convey his message and express his emotions. It is evident that Ginsberg is not only concerned about the state of America but also about the future of humanity.
The poem begins with an appeal to America, "America I've given you all and now I'm nothing." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is an expression of disillusionment and frustration. Ginsberg's use of the word "nothing" suggests that he has lost faith in the American dream.
Ginsberg's use of repetition in the poem is particularly effective. For instance, he repeats the phrase "America" throughout the poem. This repetition emphasizes the importance of America to Ginsberg and the frustration he feels. By repeating the word America, Ginsberg is drawing attention to the issues he feels need to be addressed.
The poem is also characterized by sharp shifts in tone. Ginsberg moves from moments of anger and frustration to moments of tenderness and vulnerability. For instance, he writes, "America when will you be angelic? / When will you take off your clothes?" This line suggests that Ginsberg is aware that America is capable of change. However, he is frustrated that it has not happened yet.
The poem is also characterized by a sense of urgency. Ginsberg is aware that time is running out, and the issues he is addressing need to be addressed urgently. He writes, "It's the duty of the heart to help / It's the duty of the heart to help / It's the duty of the heart to help / It's the duty of the heart to help." This repetition emphasizes the importance of action.
Ginsberg's poem is also characterized by a sense of hope. Although he is frustrated with the state of America, he is hopeful that things can change. The poem ends with the line, "I'm with you in Rockland / where you're madder than I am." This line suggests that Ginsberg is not alone in how he feels. There are others who share his frustrations, and together they can effect change.
In conclusion, Allen Ginsberg's "America" is a powerful poem that delves into the complexities of American society. It is a reflection of the angst, disillusionment, and frustration that many Americans felt at the time. Ginsberg's use of repetition, changes in tone, and a sense of urgency, hope, and frustration make the poem an essential piece of American literature. The poem is a reminder that change is possible, but it requires action.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
America: A Poem of Rebellion and Disillusionment
Allen Ginsberg's "America" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of rebellion and disillusionment that characterized the 1950s and 1960s in America. Written in 1956, the poem is a scathing critique of American society and its values, as well as a call to action for those who seek to challenge the status quo. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem, and examine how they contribute to its overall meaning and impact.
Themes
The central theme of "America" is the conflict between the individual and society, and the tension between freedom and conformity. Ginsberg portrays America as a nation that has lost its way, a place where people are trapped in a cycle of consumerism, conformity, and repression. He rails against the conformity and hypocrisy of American society, and calls for a new kind of rebellion that is based on individual freedom and self-expression.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of the poet as a prophet or visionary. Ginsberg sees himself as a kind of modern-day prophet, speaking truth to power and challenging the established order. He uses his poetry as a tool for social and political change, and sees himself as part of a larger movement of artists and activists who are working to create a new kind of society.
Structure
The structure of "America" is free-form and improvisational, reflecting the spontaneous and rebellious spirit of the Beat Generation. The poem is divided into 16 stanzas of varying lengths, with no consistent rhyme or meter. The lines are often fragmented and disjointed, with abrupt shifts in tone and subject matter. This structure allows Ginsberg to express his ideas and emotions in a raw and unfiltered way, without the constraints of traditional poetic forms.
Language
The language of "America" is bold, provocative, and often profane. Ginsberg uses a wide range of literary devices, including repetition, alliteration, and metaphor, to create a powerful and visceral effect. He also incorporates elements of popular culture, such as advertising slogans and song lyrics, to critique the consumerist and conformist values of American society.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of repetition. Ginsberg repeats certain phrases and images throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, the phrase "America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel" appears several times, emphasizing the poet's commitment to rebellion and resistance.
Metaphor is another important element of the poem's language. Ginsberg uses metaphor to create vivid and memorable images that capture the essence of his critique. For example, he describes America as a "crazy, illuminated, holy, angelic, demonic" place, highlighting its contradictions and complexities.
Analysis
The opening lines of "America" set the tone for the rest of the poem:
America I've given you all and now I'm nothing. America two dollars and twenty-seven cents January 17, 1956. I can't stand my own mind.
These lines express the poet's disillusionment with America and his own sense of alienation. He feels that he has given everything to America, but has received nothing in return. The reference to the specific date and amount of money creates a sense of immediacy and concreteness, as if the poet is speaking directly to the reader.
Throughout the poem, Ginsberg uses a variety of images and metaphors to critique American society. He describes America as a "hysterical naked machine" that is driven by consumerism and conformity. He also critiques the political establishment, describing the President as a "faggot" and a "mafia boss" who is more concerned with his own power than with the welfare of the people.
One of the most powerful sections of the poem is the following:
America when will we end the human war? Go fuck yourself with your atom bomb I don't feel good don't bother me.
These lines express the poet's anger and frustration with the nuclear arms race and the threat of global annihilation. The use of profanity and vulgarity creates a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the poet is shouting out his message to the world.
Towards the end of the poem, Ginsberg shifts his focus to the role of the poet in society. He sees the poet as a kind of prophet or visionary, who can see beyond the surface of things and reveal the deeper truths of existence. He also sees the poet as a rebel and a revolutionary, who can challenge the established order and create a new kind of society.
Conclusion
"America" is a powerful and provocative poem that captures the spirit of rebellion and disillusionment that characterized the Beat Generation. Through its bold language, vivid imagery, and free-form structure, the poem critiques American society and its values, and calls for a new kind of rebellion based on individual freedom and self-expression. It is a testament to the power of poetry to challenge the status quo and inspire social and political change.
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