Kaddish and Other Poems

"Kaddish", also known as "Kaddish for Naomi Ginsberg", is a poem by Beat writer Allen Ginsberg about his mother Naomi and her death on June 9, 1956.Ginsberg began writing the poem in the Beat Hotel in Paris in December 1957 and completed it in New York in 1959. It is often considered one of Ginsberg's finest poems, with some scholars holding that it is his best poem. The title "Kaddish" refers to the mourner's prayer or blessing in Judaism. This long poem was Ginsberg's attempt to mourn his mother, Naomi, but also reflects his sense of loss at his estrangement from his born religion. The traditional Kaddish contains no references to death, whereas Ginsberg's poem is riddled with thoughts and questionings of death. The poem was published as the lead poem in the collection "Kaddish and Other Poems" in 1961.Contents:Kaddish For Naomi Ginsberg 1894-1956Poem: RocketEurope! Europe!To LindsayMessageTo Aunt RoseAt Apollinaire's GraveThe Lion For RealIgnuDeath To Van Gogh's Ear!Laughing GasMescalineLysergic AcidMagic PsalmThe ReplyThe EndEinstein Books' edition of "Kaddish And Other Poems" contains supplementary texts:* "Howl", by Allen Ginsberg.* "America", by Allen Ginsberg.* A few selected quotes of Allen Ginsberg.