Counter-Culture in the Beat Generation Poetry and its Impact on Modern Iraqi Poetry

Abstract

Although the Beat movement was short-lived, it left its influence on many poets who followed. During 1950s, the 'Beat' is recognized as a movement or a generation of post-World War II. The works of Beat poets are characterized by experimental styles and subjects including their spontaneous poetry, writing without regard for grammar, sexually explicit language, raising discussion of experience, and themes ranging from rejection of American values and fear of nuclear war to sexual escapades and road trips.  

This study sheds lights on some poems by representative poets of the movement. The poems include " A Supermarket in California " by Allen Ginsberg (1926 – 1997) and "Bomb" and " Last night I drove a car " by  Gregory Corso (1930-2001).  As a female voice among the Beat Generation,  Diane di Prima ( 1934-2020 )  has been studied with her two poems  " I Am A Shadow "   and " She Is The Wind ".The study refers to the impact this movement leaves on Iraqi poetry through talking some poems by Hussein Mardan (1927– 1972)  in his book "Naked Poems" and the poem ' Oedipus" which summarizes the psychological suffering of Baland Al Haidari (1926 – 1996 ).