Ed Sanders signing a Ferlinghetti birthday card, which was signed by all the readers at the Howl! event.
Feting Ferlinghetti as Beat icon turns 100
BY BOB KRASNER
Poets and musicians with connections to
the Beat Generation and the East Village
gathered at the Howl! Happening
gallery, at 6 E. First St., on Sunday to
pay tribute to Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
The legendary Yonkers-born poet,
painter and publisher entered his
100th year that day.
Emceed by poet Bob Holman,
the event saw the gallery
packed and a long and consistently
entertaining afternoon
of readers alternating between
works of Ferlinghetti
and their own.
The esteemed group included
Ed Sanders, Hettie Jones,
Anne Waldman, David Henderson,
Eileen Myles, Lenny
Kaye, Eric Andersen, Helixx C.
Armageddon, Maggie Dubris,
Puma Perl and Michael McClure,
the latter via video link from Ferlinghetti’s
City Lights bookstore in
San Francisco.
The celebration appeared to end
earlier than expected, after an extremely
PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER
enthusiastic audience reading of the poet’s classic
“I Am Waiting.” However, the appearance of
scheduled performer Laurie Anderson — who
actually was arriving at her scheduled time
— sent everyone back to their seats. The
day ended with a lovely collaboration
between her and Eric Andersen.
Ferlinghetti did not attend any of
the events celebrating his centenary.
Per his Web page: “Lawrence
Ferlinghetti would like everyone
to know that although he
won’t be attending any of the
various events being planned
to honor his 100th birthday,
he’s inviting everyone to participate
and have a good time:
‘I’m happy to hear that there
are so many people celebrating
my birthday. Makes it really
special. I fi gure that with
another 100 birthdays that’ll be
about enough!'”
Anne Waldman, far left, and
Lenny Kaye participating in
the audience read-along of
Ferlinghetti’s famous poem
“I Am Waiting.”
22 March 28, 2019 TVG Schneps Media