Wichita Vortex Sutra (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Allen Ginsberg
- First Published: 1966
- Type of Work: Mock epic
- Genres: Free verse, Poetry, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Language or languages, 1960’s, United States or Americans, Music or musicians, Midwest, Christianity, Buddhism
The Poem
“Wichita Vortex Sutra” is a long poem (690 lines) in free verse that is divided into two main parts. Part 1 (156 lines) was actually written the day after part 2 (534 lines); the poem was written on February 14 and 15, 1966. The word “sutra” in the title is the Sanskrit word for thread, connective cord, or rule, and is used in a religious context to denote any of the sermons of the Buddha. Situated near the geographic center of the continental United States, Wichita, Kansas, is, for Allen Ginsberg, also the cultural heart of the country. Overwhelmingly white,...
[The entire page is 1431 words long]
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