Allen Ginsberg Award

 

“I think about you all the time, and have no one to talk to as only we can talk.”

— Allen Ginsberg, The Letters of Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg was an amazing human being, who happened, by chance and choice, to express himself much better than most.

I am writing these words on the evening of his 89^th birthday, June 3, 2015, just outside of Newark, his place of birth, a few weeks or so before August 23^rd, the day the NWPC  (Newton Writing & Poetry Center) bestows the inaugural Allen Ginsberg Literary Community Contribution Award upon Doug Holder, Somerville’s most cheer-leading diplomat of poetry, a man who, like Ginsberg, expresses himself better than most, but he also promotes, supports, exposes, educates, inspires, shares, disseminates, creates and otherwise propagates more poetry in a month than I could in my lifetime, if I started in diapers.

The man is everywhere, both serving his fellow humans with compassion at McLean Hospital, teaching the next generation at Endicott college, amusing and amazing his own generation with his latest chapbook release, Arts Editor at the Somerville News, stewarding Ibbetson Street Press to life on a regular basis, no small achievement in itself, spending weekend mornings with the Bagel Bards, writing the Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene blog, doing “Poet to Poet” for Somerville TV,  hosting the Newton Library Series on the third Tuesday of each month, and showing up to support his poetic friends when they have readings, openings, book launches. Doug’s poetry just rubs off on you, you cannot help but wanting to brew a beverage, curl up, and read some more. Doug Holder cannot help but leave poetry in his wake, like I leave footprints.

And Allen Ginsberg. 

Look, if you are less than thirty, or even if you are maybe older and only recently got into the power of words, go check this out, or this, and this. Come back later and pick up from here.

Allen Ginsberg not only knew shit from shinola, he told you in a way that you could understand, sure, but his words, man, you would get really get it, on a visceral level, you just knew this was his personal truth, dumped onto a table and shared with you. There was little pretension, and even less bullshit, in the words he chose to place just so.

Ginsberg promoted others even harder than he did himself. He was tireless in his efforts to get your voice heard, if you had something to say. Which brings us back to Doug. See how this all fits neatly?

The NWPC reached out to the Ginsberg estate, and not only did they officially sanctify and commend the idea, as well as its recipient, they felt that Allen himself would have been proud of the heart behind this award.

So come by the NWPC and bring a friend who thinks they do not like poetry, or bring someone who is intrigued by the idea of writing and word wrestling in general, but just drag a warm body along with you to the Center on August 23, party with us, buy some sweet NWPC swag and keep the damned lights on. 

Buy books, chapbooks, and stuff for future gifts, sign up for a poetry workshop (or convince your friend to do so) meet people who are into poetry and meet (and be sure and get an autograph from) Doug Holder himself. Buy his book, I bet he will sign it for you, he is that kind of guy.