Anne Waldman

Okay, Anne Waldman is not my favorite author… But, I’m going to write about her anyway, because I have to respect her.

Waldman is a Beat Poet, meaning that she was hanging out with Allen Ginsberg, and the boys. The whole concept behind the Beatnick poets was to create a new type of poetry that was “free.” It was the poetry that juxtaposed the hippie movement, and is seen in the philosophies of the Beats, from freedom of thought and choice to political statements with the poetry. All of the poetry written by the Beats is to make these types of statements in order to get people to protest, fight, etc.

There are quite a few Beats left, Waldman being one. And they are still on their way to political fights, voices about how the world needs to change, etc, etc.

Here’s the thing about Waldman. I’ve been “required” to read a few of her books, which are layered, thick, difficult to read and even though they are for having a voice about these political issues, they seem a little chaotic to me.

But, the real reason why I’m saying this is because I’ve seen this woman do her performances quite a few times, because she lives and teaches 30 miles from where I live. Everything in her poetry and books reflects her performances with the same darkness, chaos and confusion. Her performances, and her attitude seems to be just as thick.

So, the reason why I love her and dis-like her is because she has definitely transformed poetry and caught with the right people and the movements going on. Not only this, but she has stuck with it for years. Something a lot of poets don’t do. However, she seems to be simply a figure head of these movements. The reflection in her poetry and prose doesn’t offer this same basis and philosophy…but instead offers confusion.

So, in the world of poets, and writers, pay attention to Waldman, simply to decide if she is really being the voice that she has proposed to be.