Howl Madness Quotes Page 3
(line)
| Quote #7 I'm with you in Rockland where you imitate the shade of my mother (lines 97-98) |
A "shade" is a ghost or spirit. Ginsberg's mother had died at this point, but the speaker sees in eerie connection between his mother and Solomon. For the speaker, it's a distressing case of history repeating itself.
| Quote #8 I'm with you in Rockland where you scream in a straightjacket that you're losing the game of the actual pingpong of the abyss |
Although Solomon and Ginsberg both spent time at a psychiatric hospital together, these lines give the impression that Solomon was much more unstable than Ginsberg. Nonetheless, the speaker thinks that his friend doesn't belong in a "madhouse" in part because it resembles a prison or military facility, which is "armed." Solomon thinks of himself as a political dissident.
| Quote #9 I'm with you in Rockland where we wake up electrified out of the coma by our own souls' airplanes roaring over the roof they've come to drop angelic bombs the hospital illuminates itself imaginary walls collapse O skinny legions run outside O starry spangled shock of mercy the eternal war is here O victory forget your underwear we're free |
Is Solomon in a "coma," or is this word just a metaphor? At any rate, the poem ends with the image of the patient breaking out of the hospital like the members of some renegade army with "skinny legions" of soldiers. Also, the speaker never loses his sense of humor and helpfully points out that the prisoners aren't wearing any underwear.
