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1966 Allen Ginsberg poem release...
1966 Allen Ginsberg poem release...
Item # 725402
April 28, 1966
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, April 28, 1966
* American poet & writer Allen Ginsberg release
* "Wichita Vortex Sutra" anti- Vietnam war poem
Starting on page 17 is the release of a poem by Allen Ginsberg titled: "Wichita Vortex Sutra" with lengthy text continuing on 2 other pages.
background: Published in the April 28, 1966, edition of The Village Voice, the debut of "Wichita Vortex Sutra" stands as a monumental moment in counterculture history where poetry directly confronted the machinery of the Vietnam War. Spanning three pages starting on page 17, the poem represents Allen Ginsberg’s attempt to reclaim the power of language from political rhetoric; famously composed on a portable tape recorder while traveling through the Kansas plains, the text serves as a "collage" of radio news flashes, billboards, and biblical prophecy. The centerpiece of this release is Ginsberg’s audacious "declaration of the end of the war," an act of linguistic magic where he asserts that if words can be used to justify violence, they can also be used to summon peace. This specific issue of the Voice is now a rare archival treasure, capturing the exact moment the Beat Generation's spiritual search evolved into a visceral, public protest against the military-industrial complex.
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
It is worth noting that "The Village Voice" was an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955, the Voice began as a platform for the creative community of New York City.
Complete with 40 pages, tabloid-size, one crease across the center, nice condition.
Provenance note: This issue comes from The Village Voice's own archives, part of their in-house collection used to create their digital archive. Rare as such.
Alert: Many issues of The Village Voice contain articles and/or photos which some consider offensive, and are certainly inappropriate for children. Please purchase with discretion.
Category: The 20th Century
















