“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg

I was first introduced to Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” while in my junior year of undergrad. I was 20. I fell in love with the stream of consciousness writing technique, and I was drawn to this chaotic poem because of its honest subject matter: young adults viewed as outcasts in the city, driven to their breaking points by broken dreams or broken hearts. The rawness and the realness of this poem really stood out to me, and it quickly became my favorite poem.

For Carl Solomon

This poem was selected by Samantha Miller, W.C. Staff.