Search - Allen Ginsberg :: Wichita Vortex Sutra

The anti-war poem of vietnam era still resonates

ron sterzinger | MINNEAPOLIS MN | 08/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"one of ginsberg's best poems: (ranks right up there with howl and kaddish). wichita vortex sutra deals with the poet's search for truth as he crosses the plains of the midwest on the way to poetry readings during the vietnam era. a poetic masterpiece in the vein of whitman as if whitman himself were in the driver's seat coaxing ginsberg on. it is also a poem of loneliness, of loss and of spiritual search as well. recorded with various musicians toward the end of the bards life it stands out as a masterful achievement of one of the prominent voices of the last century. though the music sometimes distracts, allen's poetic vision shines through brightly. this recording is an epic must have for anyone who loves poetry especially recorded poetry. in these days of war and rumours of war much of what was written by allen in this poem still rings true. and that's the sad thing."