Thanks for the encouragement Marvin.
I regret to note that I misquoted Ginsberg. I only realized this listening
to America on CD today. He actually wrote: "America this is quite serious."
By the way, the recording I have of his reading the poem is quite
interesting: the audience is laughing and interacting with him a great
deal. While there was always an element of humor in the poem, it only
struck me how funny it really is, while still being "quite serious."
Anyway, tangent. But I must say I think it's one of the most interesting
patriotic poems I've ever seen, because it's critical and fraught with
concern, rather then merely celebratory. My 2 cents.
Gord
