THE SIGNAL from David Katznelson
"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."-Flannery O'Connor
“Everything is holy! everybody's holy! everywhere is holy! everyday is in eternity! Everyman's an angel!”
On this date in 1955, 520 copies of Allen Ginsberg’s Howl were confiscated by the police; a poem was deemed a dangerous thing. A few months later Shig Murao, the manager of the City Lights book store was arrested for selling a copy of that poem to an undercover cop. And soon after that, the much missed Lawrence Ferlinghetti…the publisher of Howl—was also arrested. Arrested because of a poem.
This leads to the famous obscenity trial of 1957…one of the most publicized events of the year…where people took the stand to stand up for…a poem.
“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked”
The opening line of Howl might be one of the most famous lines of poetry ever written. It framed more than just the poem it began, but the zeitgeist of an era. The only good that comes from attacking art is to prove the true impact art can have, as well as helping that piece of art in question be discovered and remembered. Howl will always be celebrated as one of the greatest American poems.
And it should also remind us that the freedom of the pen and brush must never be taken for granted.
Whether it is the big reveal at the end of Wise Blood or the dark tension of A Good Man Is Hard To Find, Flannery O’Conner knows how to scar her reader with the stories she weaves with nails and venom. I cannot wait for this documentary (oh, and today would have been her birthday)…
Aretha Franklin’s Family Blasts ‘Genius’ Film for Ignoring Them: ‘It’s About Respect’
And another story about another person celebrating a birthday and a biopic. This time the celebration is being quelled by family members. I guess it is up to the court of popular opinion to decide the ultimate fate here. And speaking of Aretha Franklin, I made a mix of some of my favorite Aretha songs for her last birthday…might as well repost it here!
Rare Hailu Mergia & The Walias Band Album Tezeta to Be Reissued
My friend and audio engineering extraordinaire Jessica Thompson painstakingly restored these incredible tracks from a 1975 Ethiopian cassette recording for a new release coming out now. Anyone going to Aquarius Records in the ‘90s knows from the Ethiopiques comps they heralded how incredible Ethiopian music was at that time, and judging by the song that graces the above article, this is some of the cream of the crop. Oh yeah.
Hans Gatt wins inaugural 2021 Yukon Journey
“We were pretty even the whole race, so I figured that 30 minutes (in the lead) should be enough,” Gatt said. “But when we hit the Takhini River, my slides just stopped … I couldn’t even make a slack, it was like pulling a log and totally my mistake, I forgot black plastic in Braeburn, so I had this yellow plastic … and so I could see Ed coming up behind me and the rest is history.”
A TRUE ACCOUNT OF TALKING TO THE SUN AT FIRE ISLAND
By Frank O’Hara
The Sun woke me this morning loud
and clear, saying "Hey! I've been
trying to wake you up for fifteen
minutes. Don't be so rude, you are
only the second poet I've ever chosen
to speak to personally
so why
aren't you more attentive? If I could
burn you through the window I would
to wake you up. I can't hang around
here all day."
"Sorry, Sun, I stayed
up late last night talking to Hal."
"When I woke up Mayakovsky he was
a lot more prompt" the Sun said
petulantly. "Most people are up
already waiting to see if I'm going
to put in an appearance."
I tried
to apologize "I missed you yesterday."
"That's better" he said. "I didn't
know you'd come out." "You may be
wondering why I've come so close?"
"Yes" I said beginning to feel hot
wondering if maybe he wasn't burning me
anyway.
"Frankly I wanted to tell you
I like your poetry. I see a lot
on my rounds and you're okay. You may
not be the greatest thing on earth, but
you're different. Now, I've heard some
say you're crazy, they being excessively
calm themselves to my mind, and other
crazy poets think that you're a boring
reactionary. Not me.
Just keep on
like I do and pay no attention. You'll
find that people always will complain
about the atmosphere, either too hot
or too cold too bright or too dark, days
too short or too long.
If you don't appear
at all one day they think you're lazy
or dead. Just keep right on, I like it.
And don't worry about your lineage
poetic or natural. The Sun shines on
the jungle, you know, on the tundra
the sea, the ghetto. Wherever you were
I knew it and saw you moving. I was waiting
for you to get to work.
And now that you
are making your own days, so to speak,
even if no one reads you but me
you won't be depressed. Not
everyone can look up, even at me. It
hurts their eyes."
"Oh Sun, I'm so grateful to you!"
"Thanks and remember I'm watching. It's
easier for me to speak to you out
here. I don't have to slide down
between buildings to get your ear.
I know you love Manhattan, but
you ought to look up more often.
And
always embrace things, people earth
sky stars, as I do, freely and with
the appropriate sense of space. That
is your inclination, known in the heavens
and you should follow it to hell, if
necessary, which I doubt.
Maybe we'll
speak again in Africa, of which I too
am specially fond. Go back to sleep now
Frank, and I may leave a tiny poem
in that brain of yours as my farewell."
"Sun, don't go!" I was awake
at last. "No, go I must, they're calling
me."
"Who are they?"
Rising he said "Some
day you'll know. They're calling to you
too." Darkly he rose, and then I slept.
