Allen Ginsberg(1926-1997)

Public readings of Ginsberg's classic "Howl" became an event, before and after the First Amendment controversies surrounding the work. When one heckler doubted Ginsberg's commitment to "going naked in the world", Ginsberg answered him by disrobing onstage.

Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does.