Howl by Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg’s Poem: Mourning and Society’s Challenges

Allen Ginsberg, the poet, is in grief over a number of incidents and occurrences in the United States. The author has devoted this piece to a friend named Carl Solomon. Several cities and places, including Denver, are listed in the poem.

The Loss of Great Minds and the Theme of Poverty

To begin, the poem implies that certain great minds have been lost as a result of madness, which leads to the nakedness of the soul. The writers characterize those people who have lost minds as hovering about the streets looking for an angry cure. These people, it seems, are unable to work and make a living, and hence the theme of poverty emerges. Poverty is well described by those dressed in tatters, darkness, hunger, and living in darkness. The author also sympathizes with the education system of the day. Students are being expelled from academic institutions for avoidable reasons such as being obscene. I feel that this is awkward as the educated persons as the learned persons are the ones who are supposed stronger instincts on the ’rights and wrongs’ (Ginsberg).

The Impact of Drug Abuse on Brilliant Minds and Education

Ginsberg also mourns other challenges that are encountered in the educational systems. Drug abuse is one of them, and I think this is the leading cause of brilliant minds destruction. The author has mentioned marijuana and closely linked it to abortion of the dreams. Drug abuse not only interferes with education but also the thinking of a prudent person. The actions supposed to be wrong becomes right in the minds of intoxicated persons making it possible for such a person to walk naked or engage in other criminal activities. Dreams of scholars and students become nightmares leading to retardation of different departments and events such as economic development (Ginsberg).

The Interconnectedness of Unemployment, Poverty, and Brain Drain

The poet has also covered the issue of unemployment and brain. Unemployment increases poverty in the community, despair and giving up. I believe that all the problems addressed by the poet are directly or indirectly related. For instance, poverty may encourage some to engage in drug abuse while abusing drugs may also lead to poverty due to resources misappropriation and reduced work productivity. Unemployment among parents renders some parents unable to cater for their children’s school fees due to reduced income and to increase the future poverty rates. The poet has also mentioned the prevalent case of brain drain. Brilliant minds are lost to drugs and unemployment in some states forcing them to work elsewhere. Those who are troubled by this life are forced to seek happiness from stale beer and jukebox music. This is a severe threat to the conservationists who are left with no other option other than to try refuge elsewhere. Various immoral activities happen in the dark such that some natural occurrences such as lightning are seen to be critical in exposing them (Ginsberg).

The Sufferings in the Society: Disease, Immorality, and Rejecting the Poor

Ginsberg has covered the sufferings observed in his community. There are shocks at hospitals and jails associated with screaming and vomiting. The members of the society are weeping for deaths, and some of them could have been caused by detectives and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions in Mexico. Harassments are present while some believers are busy praying for their salvation. The intellects are being abused and misused. Respect that should be accorded to essential institutions such as a synagogue is absent as evidenced by misuse of synagogue meat. The citizens are suffering from being overworked and from health problems such as migraines. Many are also heartbroken and lonely forcing them to engage in immoral activities such as drug abuse. They wander to satisfy their thirst for Jazz, sex or soup to the point of escaping to Africa. Those who are left in the US have no otherwise other than tolerating these occurrences. Life is not equal to all since while some are mourning, others have an unquenchable passion for studying, and some still are in luxury.

The Effects of Immorality and Thirst for Dollars

The poet further mourns of the sexual immoralities present. The immoralities are present in different places such as Rose gardens, public parks, and even cemeteries. They can be directly attributed to nudity present and also to drug abuse. Romance is exposed along the streets creating lousy influence to vulnerable members of the society. Accidents causing deaths have increased because of increased cases of drug abuse. Visions are lost through these immoralities. There are increased suicides and cases of diabetes leading to fatalities and hence mourning in the society. The poet has highlighted solitude, filth, ugliness, and thirst for dollars as causes of mourning. The desire for dollars has resulted from rejection and despising the poor. The poor are forced to feed on unworthy materials such as rotten animals. Sorrow has engulfed people of all ages from small boys to old men. There are visions, omens miracles, ecstasies and hallucinations that determine individuals’ success. Others are blind to realize their potentials and achievements. The poet is also concerned to Carl Solomon whom the poem is dedicated to. The poet acknowledges that when Carl is not safe, he is also not safe. I believe that this virtue of being in concern to others can be used to solve the suffering described in this poem.

Collaborative Effort for a Better Society

The poet has been mourning of diseases, drug abuse, loneliness, rejection of the poor, immorality, harassment, deaths and other evils. The cause of these challenges revolves may be familiar with all these problems. They can be solved by incorporating different stakeholders and the society. I believe that the community has a broad role to play and they can accomplish it by just minding their fellows. Religion has been mentioned, and instead of the followers spending time praying for their salvation, they should also attempt to assist their colleagues and reduce the suffering. The poet is very clear on this when he mentions that when Carl is not safe, he is not safe either. Every individual must try and improve the condition of his colleague to reduce the suffering and immorality in the society.

Work cited

Ginsberg, Allen. “Howl.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 1984. Retrieved from