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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


GOING TO CHICAGO by ALLEN GINSBERG

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: 22,000 FEET OVER HAZED SQUARE VEGETABLE PLANET FLOOR
Last Line: By man poet's eyes astounded in the fire haze, / carbon gas aghast
Subject(s): UNITED STATES; AIR TRAVEL; AMERICA;

22,000 feet over Hazed square Vegetable planet Floor
Approaching Chicago to Die or flying over Earth another 40 years
to die-Indifferent, and Afraid, that the bone-shattering bullet
be the same as the vast evaporation-of-phenomena Cancer
Come true in an old man's bed.
Many chimneys smoldering, city flats virus-linked
along Delaware bays under horizon-smog-
airplane drifting black vapor-filaments
above Wilmington--The iron habitations
endless from Manhattan to the Capitol.
Poe! D'jya prophesy this Smogland, this Inferno,
Didja Dream Baltimore'd Be Seen From Heaven
by Man Poet's eyes Astounded in the Fire Haze,
carbon Gas aghast!




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