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Forty feet long sixty feet high hotel Covered with old…

“Forty feet long sixty feet high hotel Covered with old gray for buzzing flies Eye like mango flowing orange pus Ears Durga people vomiting in their sleep Got huge legs a dozen buses move inside Calcutta Swallowing mouthfuls of dead rats Mangy dogs bark out of a thousand breasts Garbage pouring…” quote by Allen Ginsberg
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““Forty feet long sixty feet high hotel Covered with old gray for buzzing flies Eye like mango flowing orange pus Ears Durga people vomiting in their sleep Got huge legs a dozen buses move inside Calcutta Swallowing mouthfuls of dead rats Mangy dogs bark out of a thousand breasts Garbage pouring from its ass behind alleys Always pissing yellow Hooghly water Bellybutton melted Chinatown brown puddles Coughing lungs Sound going down the sewer Nose smell a big gray Bidi Heart bumping and crashing over tramcar tracks Covered with a hat of cloudy iron Suffering water buffalo head lowered To pull the huge cart of year uphill””

Allen Ginsberg

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A chaotic, vivid depiction of urban decay and suffering, using grotesque imagery to critique societal neglect.

In simple terms: City life is messy and painful.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address social inequities.

Themes

urban decay human suffering social critique

Mood

somber critical

Type

poetic social commentary

When to use this quote

  • public policy
  • urban planning
  • community health
  • social work

Key Concepts

metaphor surrealism environmental decay

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does this portrayal affect your view of the city?
  • What actions can reduce such urban suffering?
A Different Perspective

The extreme imagery may alienate some readers, reducing empathy.

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