A good response to the posting of Bob Holman’s “Poetry Spot” (Allen Ginsberg Does Tai Chi) last week. So here’s another one. This, from his 1996 PBS series, The United States of Poetry. Allen reads (and acts out) his bitter-sweet late poem, ”Personals Ad” (from Cosmopolitan Greetings) . F.y.i., that young man in his skivvies just might be our very own Peter Hale!
The text of the poem can be read here – And perhaps we should also point out that this poem was one of twelve of Allen’s chosen for Random House’s audiobook, The Voice of the Poet – Allen Ginsberg. It was also given a memorable setting by composer David Del Tredici in his 2001 song cycle, Gay Life.