'Five A.M.' by Allen Ginsberg


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Elan that lifts me above the clouds
into pure space, timeless, yea eternal
Breath transmuted into words
Transmuted back to breath
in one hundred two hundred years
nearly Immortal, Sappho's 26 centuries
of cadenced breathing -- beyond time, clocks, empires, bodies, cars,
chariots, rocket ships skyscrapers, Nation empires
brass walls, polished marble, Inca Artwork
of the mind -- but where's it come from?
Inspiration? The muses drawing breath for you? God?
Nah, don't believe it, you'll get entangled in Heaven or Hell --
Guilt power, that makes the heart beat wake all night
flooding mind with space, echoing through future cities, Megalopolis or
Cretan village, Zeus' birth cave Lassithi Plains -- Otsego County
farmhouse, Kansas front porch?
Buddha's a help, promises ordinary mind no nirvana --
coffee, alcohol, cocaine, mushrooms, marijuana, laughing gas?
Nope, too heavy for this lightness lifts the brain into blue sky
at May dawn when birds start singing on East 12th street --
Where does it come from, where does it go forever?

May 1996

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Resounding Truth Behind Allen Ginsberg's Five A.M.

If there is one thing that Allen Ginsberg is known for, it is his ability to capture the essence of the human condition in his poetry. Through his words, the reader is able to feel the raw emotions that he experiences, and in turn, they feel as though they are experiencing them too. Ginsberg's poem Five A.M. is no exception. This poem is a deep and powerful exploration of the human psyche, and it is a testament to the poet's genius.

A Brief Overview of Five A.M.

Five A.M. is a poem that was written by Allen Ginsberg in 1958. It is a powerful exploration of the human psyche and the emotions that we experience. The poem is structured in a way that allows the reader to feel the various emotions that the poet is experiencing. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the human psyche. The first section is an exploration of the poet's own fears and anxieties. The second section is an exploration of the poet's relationship with the world around him. The final section is an exploration of the poet's relationship with God.

The First Section: An Exploration of Fear and Anxiety

The first section of Five A.M. is an exploration of the poet's own fears and anxieties. The opening lines of the poem immediately set the tone for what is to come: "Strange now to think of you, / gone without corsets & eyes, / while I walk on / the sunny pavement of Greenwich Village." These lines are jarring, and they immediately establish a feeling of unease in the reader. The use of the word "strange" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the poet is feeling a sense of disorientation and confusion.

Throughout this section of the poem, the poet explores his own fears and anxieties. He talks about his fear of death, his fear of being alone, and his fear of the unknown. These fears are all too real for many people, and the poet's exploration of them is both moving and powerful.

The Second Section: An Exploration of the Human Condition

The second section of the poem is an exploration of the poet's relationship with the world around him. In this section, the poet talks about the people that he sees on the street, the buildings that he passes by, and the sounds of the city. The poet's observations are vivid and detailed, and they paint a picture of a world that is both beautiful and chaotic.

One of the most striking lines in this section of the poem is: "The sun is rising in the east / but every day begins / with a sense of the dead." This line is powerful because it suggests that even in the midst of all the beauty and chaos of the world, there is a sense of loss and sadness that is always present.

The Final Section: An Exploration of the Divine

The final section of Five A.M. is an exploration of the poet's relationship with God. In this section, the poet talks about his search for meaning and his desire to connect with something greater than himself. The poet's language in this section is powerful and moving, and it suggests that he is grappling with some of the biggest questions that we as humans face.

One of the most powerful lines in this section is: "I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd." This line is powerful because it suggests that the poet is searching for something greater than himself, but he feels like an outsider in the world around him. This is a feeling that many people can relate to, and the poet's exploration of it is both honest and moving.

Conclusion

Overall, Five A.M. is a powerful and moving poem that explores some of the biggest questions that we as humans face. Through his words, Allen Ginsberg is able to capture the essence of the human condition and convey a sense of raw emotion that is both beautiful and haunting. This is a poem that speaks to the heart, and it is a testament to the poet's genius.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Five A.M. by Allen Ginsberg is a classic poem that captures the essence of the Beat Generation. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the poet's experience of waking up at five in the morning and observing the world around him. Ginsberg's use of vivid imagery, free verse, and stream of consciousness style makes this poem a masterpiece of modern poetry.

The poem begins with the line "The night is dark, the stars are blue," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The poet is awake at an ungodly hour, and the world around him is still asleep. The darkness of the night and the blue stars create a surreal atmosphere, which is further enhanced by the poet's use of free verse.

Ginsberg's use of free verse is one of the defining features of his poetry. He believed that poetry should be free from the constraints of traditional forms and should reflect the poet's innermost thoughts and emotions. In Five A.M., Ginsberg's use of free verse allows him to express his thoughts and feelings in a raw and unfiltered manner.

The second stanza of the poem begins with the line "The birds are singing in the trees," which is a stark contrast to the darkness of the night. The birdsong represents the beginning of a new day, and the poet is acutely aware of this transition. He observes the world around him with a sense of wonder and awe, which is evident in his use of vivid imagery.

Ginsberg's use of vivid imagery is another defining feature of his poetry. He uses words to paint a picture in the reader's mind, and in Five A.M., he does this with great skill. For example, in the third stanza, he writes, "The streets are empty, the buildings are dead," which creates a sense of desolation and loneliness. The use of the word "dead" is particularly effective, as it conveys a sense of finality and hopelessness.

The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Ginsberg writes, "The mind is racing, the body is tired," which captures the essence of the human experience. We are all caught between the demands of our minds and the limitations of our bodies. The poet is acutely aware of this struggle, and he expresses it with great clarity and honesty.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the poet's own mortality. He writes, "The world is turning, the sun is rising," which represents the cyclical nature of life. The poet is aware that he is just a small part of this cycle, and that one day he too will pass away. This realization fills him with a sense of both awe and humility.

In conclusion, Five A.M. by Allen Ginsberg is a masterpiece of modern poetry. The poem captures the essence of the Beat Generation, with its use of free verse, vivid imagery, and stream of consciousness style. The poet's observations of the world around him are both honest and insightful, and his reflections on the human experience are both profound and moving. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience and to inspire us to see the world in a new and profound way.

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