Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Allen Ginsberg's "Death News" is a reflective and poignant elegy to the renowned poet William Carlos Williams. Written in 1963, the poem captures Ginsberg's emotions upon learning of Williams' death and explores the impact of his mentor's life and work on the literary world and on Ginsberg himself. The poem seamlessly blends personal memories, reflections on the nature of legacy, and a meditation on mortality.

The poem opens with a recollection of a visit to Williams in 1957, where Ginsberg, along with fellow poets Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, and Peter Orlovsky, sought wisdom from the ailing Williams. "There’s a lot of bastards out there!" Williams' pointed declaration through the window curtains encapsulates his forthright, unfiltered view of the world. This moment of candidness sets the tone for the poem, establishing Williams as a figure of blunt honesty and keen observation.

Ginsberg then shifts to the moment he hears about Williams' death: "Walking at night on asphalt campus road by the German Instructor with Glasses." The dispassionate announcement, "W. C. Williams is dead," delivered in an accented voice under the trees in Benares, juxtaposes the profound impact of the news with the mundanity of its delivery. Ginsberg's reaction, marked by enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder under the Big Dipper, reflects the deep connection and admiration he felt for Williams.

Standing on the porch of the International House Annex bungalow, surrounded by buzzing insects, Ginsberg reads the medical obituary in Time magazine. The line "Williams is in the Big Dipper" metaphorically situates the poet among the stars, suggesting an eternal presence despite physical death. Ginsberg acknowledges Williams' continued influence through his writing: "He isn’t dead as the many pages of words arranged thrill with his intonations." This sentiment underscores the enduring power of Williams' poetry to inspire and transform readers, even in distant places like Bengal.

Ginsberg contemplates Williams' final moments, wondering if the poet had any last words or thoughts after his stroke. The curiosity about Williams' mental state in his final hours speaks to the broader human concern with the nature of consciousness and expression at the end of life. The mention of praying to Williams' soul in the Bardo Thodol, a reference to the Tibetan Book of the Dead, suggests a hope for spiritual connection and continuity beyond death.

The poem transitions to a vision of unity between disparate geographies and cultures: "now I saw Passaic and Ganges one, consenting his devotion." This merging of the Passaic River in New Jersey with the sacred Ganges in India symbolizes a transcendence of boundaries, highlighting the universal nature of Williams' poetic legacy. Ginsberg envisions Williams' devotion to poetry as a form of prayer, akin to the reverence shown to deities like Ganga-Ma.

Ginsberg's imaginative reflection on Williams' final journey continues with an image of riding a "rusty Holland submarine on the ground floor Paterson Museum instead of a celestial crocodile." This blend of the mundane and the mythical emphasizes the duality of Williams' life as both a grounded, everyday figure and an extraordinary, almost mythical presence in the literary world.

The closing lines of the poem, "Mourn O Ye Angels of the Left Wing! that the poet of the streets is a skeleton under the pavement now," call upon the mourners to honor Williams' passing. Ginsberg's lament for the loss of such a kind and insightful soul, one who could truly see and understand humanity, underscores the deep void left by Williams' death. The final reflection on Williams' ability to perceive "What you wanted to be among the bastards out there" pays homage to his empathetic and perceptive nature.

In "Death News," Allen Ginsberg masterfully intertwines personal memory, cultural reflection, and metaphysical contemplation to create a heartfelt tribute to William Carlos Williams. The poem captures the enduring influence of Williams' work and his significance to Ginsberg and the broader literary community. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful introspection, Ginsberg memorializes his mentor, celebrating the profound and lasting impact of his life and poetry.

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