Allen Ginsberg's "A Supermarket in California"

Allen Ginsberg's poem, "A Supermarket in California," is one of the many eccentric poems published in "Howl and other poems." In the opening line of the poem, Ginsberg references to a poetry legend, Walt Whitman, who happens to be one of his idols. Ginsberg notes that he is having "thoughts" of Whitman, and mentions that he has a self-conscious headache- I interpreted this to mean that he looks up to Whitman's work, and is so self-conscious of his own that it has physically caused his head to ache. In the next stanza, Ginsberg says that he is "dreaming of [Whitman's] enumerations- or his literal list of achievements. Ginsberg, then, mentions another poet, Garcia Lorca as "down by the watermelons." As the poem goes on, Ginsberg also introduces a bit of sexuality, and mentions the accusations of Whitman's molesting, with the phrase "eyeing the grocery boys." There is a lot of symbolism with food in the poem, with the food mostly being fruits and vegetables, such as peaches, avocados, tomatoes, and watermelon. I think the fruits serve as a symbol of simplicity, being that they are natural and come from the Earth. Another important phrase in the poem is that "[they are] possessing every frozen delicacy, and never passing the cashier." I think that the word "delicacy" is a metaphor actually meaning the poetic fame and talent that Whitman has. The symbolism of simplicity continues as Ginsberg imagines himself and Whitman are "dreaming of the lost America of love past blue automobiles in driveways." Again, by the phrase "lost America," Ginsberg hints that the American society has become far too complex for his liking. The last line in the poem is full of imagery, as we imagine Whitman standing on a smoking bank and watching the boat, which was supposed to transport people to the afterlife, as it drifted into the "black waters of Lethe." By this imagery, I think that Ginsberg is implying that our modern society is forgetful of our simplistic roots, which Whitman is a prime example of. I do believe that Ginsberg has a point- although times will always change, we need not forget where we come from and enjoy the more simple things in life.