Peter Orlovsky, Allen’s long-time companion, born on New York’s Lower East Side, 1933, ninety-three years ago today. We focused on him earlier this year. We focus on him again today.
More Orlovsky Birthday postings from the Allen Ginsberg Project – here, here, here, and here
from A Life In Words:
July 7, 1956: letter from Peter Orlovsky in San Francisco to Allen Ginsberg on board the USNS Pendleton in Alaska
Dear Allen: … I’ve been walking the streets lately and now back to reading again, finally got the biography of Apollinaire, he’s a sweet fellow, reminds me of you. No see Neal (Cassady), no dreams. No girls. No tea [marijuana]. Talks with Laff....Laff looks for job. He bought a big box of oatmeal, plans to live cheaply. Every day I see nice people here and there.
Read on, look at the sea—spit into it, cry into it, and after you tell yourself about it, write me about it, or just send a word or two saying
“I love you.”
Love Peter
“I love you” – “Love Peter” – the love of his life – Allen in love
Here’s “Malest Cornifici Tuo Catullo”. (Allen writing to Jack Kerouac in 1955):
I’m happy, Kerouac, your madman Allen’s
finally made it: discovered a new young cat,
and my imagination of an eternal boy
walks on the streets of san Francisco,
handsome, and meets me in cafeterias
and loves me.Ah don’t think I’m sickening.
You’re angry at me. For all of my lovers?
It’s hard to eat shit, without having visions;
when they have eyes for me it’s like Heaven.
