1975 Gregory Corso - The Mad Yak
Series: Jack Kerouac Disembodied School of Poetics
From: Naropa University
Length: 00:01:23
Also in the Jack Kerouac Disembodied School of Poetics series
1999 Michael Ondaatje - Elimination Dance
(00:02:59)
From: Naropa University
ondaatje reads great poem
1998 Amselm Hollo - Big Shoes
(00:01:41)
From: Naropa University
New American Poet Anselm Hollo reads his anti-Nike poem
1997 Lorenzo Thomas - The New Age
(00:01:21)
From: Naropa University
black arts movement poet reads an anti war poem
1998 Carl Rakosi - Satyricon
(00:01:50)
From: Naropa University
Rakosi reads incisive political critique
1995 Anne Waldman - Simulacrum (Not a Real Life, Cheap Imitation)
(00:03:59)
From: Naropa University
Waldman in a strong political performance of her poetry
1992 Steven Taylor - Villanelle
(00:02:10)
From: Naropa University
Steven Taylor (of the Fugs) sings one of his own beautiful poems, addressing AIDS
1990 Bobbie Louise Hawkins - First Story
(00:06:55)
From: Naropa University
Bobbie Louise Hawkins is a Beat era writer and one woman performer, reading a beautiful piece
1989 Joanne Kyger - Springtime Adonis Poem
(00:01:52)
From: Naropa University
One of the few Beat-era women writers reads her work
1986 William S. Burroughs - Dr. Benway
(00:02:30)
From: Naropa University
Burroughs reads the provocative Dr. Benway bit
1985 Amiri Baraka - Why's Wise
(00:04:51)
From: Naropa University
powerful reading of anti slavery poem
Related Pieces
Piece Description
This piece is from Naropa University Archive's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics collection. Allen Ginsberg founded the Kerouac School, a writing program, in 1974, and for 30 years he brought a group of counter culture writers, artists and thinkers to Boulder for a Summer Program. Naropa's Audio Archive is digitizing 2000 hours of readings, lectures and panel discussions, several hundred hours of which is available for free at www.archive.org. Click through 'audio' to 'naropa' and browse. Beat legend Gregory Corso attended the program for many years. This piece is humorous and yet manages to treat still relevant issues of environment and human imperialism. Please note that he says 'fuck it' in the intro to the poem - you may want to cut this out if necessary. The piece has never been broadcast - you will be among the first to make this rare recording available to listeners.
2 Comments
|
Review of 1975 Gregory Corso - The Mad YakThis is a wonderful moment of an important and highly underrated poet who was a core component of the Beat Movement. It would be best if you could keep the salty language in, however, if you need to edit it out (or cover it with a bleep) the piece will not lose its power. It would work beautifully in a larger segment piece about the Beat Poets. There is a sense of privilege in being able to hear Corso's voice intone, "They're waiting for me to die.." considering his terminal illness a few years ago. I can't say enough good things about this piece. Thank you Naropa for posting this! |
Broadcast History
none yet
Related Website
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
Sounds in a Cowboy's Head (00:10:23) - 2 also bought:Journalists and War (00:58:30)
- 2 also bought:1975 Ted Berrigan - Heroin (00:02:29)
- 2 also bought:1975 Philip Whalen - Statement on Poetry (00:01:26)
- 2 also bought:1976 Meridith Monk - The Tale (00:01:43)
AlienCake
Posted on May 02, 2005 at 05:05 AM | Permalink
Review of 1975 Gregory Corso - The Mad Yak
A wonderful, short piece by Corso told from the point of view of a yak. Dark humor is used to present an honest view of the situation of this animal. The way that Corso makes us look from the yak's point of view is eye-opening; it presents human actions in an honest, unflattering light. One of the wonderful things about poetry is that it can make us look at the world in a new way, from a different perspective. This short poem accomplishes that.