Hi everyone,
While researching Part Two of Beautiful Possibility, I recently discovered the poem “Portland Coliseum,” by Allen Ginsberg. I’m not sure how I missed it up until now, but such are the vagaries of deep research on a big topic.
Ginsberg wrote “Portland Coliseum” after attending The Beatles’ concert at, well, Portland Coliseum, on August 22, 1965. This week, I’m sharing it with you.
Until next week.
Peace, love, and strawberry fields,
Faith 🍓
PS — Weekly updates might be a little skint for the next month or so — but if all goes well, it’ll be worth your while.
PORTLAND COLISEUM
by Allen Ginsberg
A brown piano in diamond white spotlight Leviathan auditorium iron run wired hanging organs, vox black battery A single whistling sound of ten thousand children’s larynxes asinging pierce the ears and following up the belly bliss the moment arrived Apparition, four brown English jacket christhair boys Goofed Ringo battling bright white drums Silent George hair patient Soul horse Short black-skulled Paul with the guitar Lennon the Captain, his mouth a triangular smile, all jump together to End some tearful memory song ancient-two years, The million children the thousand words bounce in their seats, bash each other’s sides, press legs together nervous Scream again & claphand become one Animal in the New World Auditorium —hands waving myriad snakes of thought screetch beyond hearing while a line of police with folded arms stands Sentry to contain the red sweatered ecstasy that rises upward to the wired roof.
– August 27, 1965
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