Details

[THE BEATS]. GINSBERG, ALLEN. Collection of 12 autograph letters (7 dated 1973) and 5 postcards (all dated 1973) signed to Peter Orlovski -- 3 autograph letters (dated 7 May 1955 and signed by Ginsberg and Burroughs; 10 pp. dated 13 December 1987, with a 3 pp. answer by Corso which was never sent; and 3 pp. dated 29 November 1991) to Gregory Corso -- 2 autograph letters to "Steve" -- one autograph letter to Jonathan Robbins -- 6 photographs by Ginsberg some inscribed. May 7, 1955: "Dear Gregory - Her's check, no harm to y[ou]r eye I hope - keep y[ou]r mouth clean & sweet - see you in Colorado. Allen Ginsberg. Please fill out (over) form on reverse - Tax laws require me to keep such records. Urgent to do this! [All in Ginsberg's hand]. Enclosed a stamped return envelope - love Bill." "...YOU BECAME INCREASINGLY AGITATED AND THREATENED TO KILL ME..." November 13, 1988:"Dear Peter: Yesterday after you had been given food & had done laundry in apt. 23, you became increasingly agitated and threatened to kill me & break Steven's guitar... Whatever problems mental or alcoholic or crack you have are only getting worse... You should go to Hazelton..." In 1991 Gregory Corso sold Alan Weiner a 10 page letter by Allen Ginsberg to him and his answer which he never mailed. Enclosed is a receipt signed by Corso, who ads: "...soon to bring in retort to Ginsberg's half - deplorable letter - which was never send - If Al (Big Al) likes my retort - who knows what i'll get in ducats... June 8, 91." December 13, 1987 N.Y.C.: "Dear Gregory... [Peter] stays mostly with Beverley, wouldn't go with us to Hazelton - the best hospital in the Country for detox... We're all suffering & happy. I went out to AA mother hospital in Minneapolis with Beverley - to Hazelton, at Marianne Faithfull's urging - to get the monkey of grief & guilt at Peter's woe off my back - He can't control his drinking and I can't so I better lay off, leave help - doors open if he can make it through, & stop hanging over him making him feel even more guilty or abashed at my anger at his drinking... Don't know what to tell you to do - If you wanne come back & go to Hazelton probably that be possible, regain your body, I'd help, get your health & sociability back, Probably easier than you think. I'm leaving for Israel with Robert Frank... Your woe is that 'you keep it all in' - The usefulness of Hazelton was, it's a good place to let it all out... I'm fond of my lady psychotherapist see her twice a week & examine the shadow my mother laid on me till it gets more transparent - I never fully realized before - I had, as you, no mama to Cry to, and it still grieves me... Otherwise I've just about finished an album of spoken poetry... and writing quite a bit & making photos & squering glassnost Russian Poets from Airports for P.E.N. Club & trying to solve Harry's problems & writing letters of recommendation for Guggenheims..." December, 1987, Italia: "My dear yiddisher boychker, there's a vast difference between Peter's drinking... & mine. He destroys the Landlord's apartment! I jump up at poetry readings and tell them so - called they suck!... I've a funny suspicion about you - you're letter starts off gently, kindly just like the Buddists taught you - then at the end, last page you lay whammies on me - is it because you know one day they'll publish your letters, and you want the world to see how we, your friends, ensuffer you? makes me almost want not to send this letter out - makes me want to tear yours up!... You must admit, you put me down for my chemical in-put; have I ever downed you by taking it up the ass? At least I know my needles are clean, are you sure all them cocks are clean?... Aids - how odd! like the middle ages! Thank Zeus, none of us "Beat" ones got it! I can't complain sex - wise - I'm sure I've fucked more women than my father & his father put together... I swear to you I sense the apocalyptic shit will hit the great fan in the sky - too many people, too much poverty & woe - police like an occupation force - What O what will come after us?..."