Father Death Blues Poem by Allen Ginsberg

Father Death Blues

Rating: 3.6


Hey Father Death, I'm flying home
Hey poor man, you're all alone
Hey old daddy, I know where I'm going

Father Death, Don't cry any more
Mama's there, underneath the floor
Brother Death, please mind the store

Old Aunty Death Don't hide your bones
Old Uncle Death I hear your groans
O Sister Death how sweet your moans

O Children Deaths go breathe your breaths
Sobbing breasts'll ease your Deaths
Pain is gone, tears take the rest

Genius Death your art is done
Lover Death your body's gone
Father Death I'm coming home

Guru Death your words are true
Teacher Death I do thank you
For inspiring me to sing this Blues

Buddha Death, I wake with you
Dharma Death, your mind is new
Sangha Death, we'll work it through

Suffering is what was born
Ignorance made me forlorn
Tearful truths I cannot scorn

Father Breath once more farewell
Birth you gave was no thing ill
My heart is still, as time will tell.

Father Death Blues
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Jack Runningbear 15 December 2007

If the entire body of Ginsberg's work was printed on toilet paper, it might finally, in some way, contribute something of value to our culture (if not our sewer systems) .

4 35 Reply
Jeff Langer 02 December 2021

He was one of the most gifted poets of our time

2 1
Dawn Fuzan 13 May 2014

Allen This is a good poem, keep it up

13 6 Reply
Constance Rose 29 September 2018

Don't know if you knew this but Allen Ginsberg is dead.

1 0
Eljay Ryan 01 October 2012

Having heard him perform this several times with the harmonium, I can attest to the performance completely changing the experience of the poem. Some commenters don't seem to want to allow for the Buddhist context that permeates his work in this period, which I don't understand. We contextualize/historicize not to belittle but to better understand. For his mother, Ginsberg wrote a Kaddish on the occasion of her death - just 3 years before this poem for his father. It is but one part of a six or seven part series, and he is clearly exploring religious traditions in the face of death, loss.

11 6 Reply
goerge 22 November 2021

+ the best death poem

0 1 Reply
goerge 22 November 2021

5 out of 5

0 1 Reply
frank 22 November 2021

3.5 : )

1 0 Reply
fred 21 November 2021

best yet : )

0 1 Reply
N9oeone 26 November 2019

Sub 2 Enzo Hamza or HE WILL EAT YOUR COOKIES! ! !

2 1 Reply
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Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

Newark, New Jersey
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