It’s Ex/rotic Friday, my wild ones! Join me as we dance through the shadows of erotic poetry, where every line is a lover’s whisper and every word a promise of chaos and ecstasy. And it doesn’t often come much more erotic or chaotic than with John Giorno.
John Giorno (1936-2019) was an American poet and performance artist known for his groundbreaking work in the fields of poetry, art, and activism.
Giorno's poetry is characterised by its innovative use of language, its incorporation of pop culture references, and its exploration of the intersection between art and life.
His collections, including "You Got to Burn to Shine" and "Subduing Demons in America," reflect on themes ranging from spirituality and sexuality to politics and social change with a distinctive blend of wit and wisdom.
One of Giorno's most famous works is his poem "Just Say No to Family Values," which challenges conventional notions of family and morality with irreverent humour and biting satire. Through his words, Giorno invites readers to question the status quo and embrace their own authentic selves, regardless of societal expectations.
In addition to his poetry, Giorno was also known for his pioneering work in performance art and multimedia installation. He collaborated with artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and William S. Burroughs, pushing the boundaries of what poetry and art could be and challenging audiences to rethink their assumptions about culture and society.
Through his poetry and art, he continues to be a source of inspiration and empowerment for all those who dare to dream and imagine a better world.
Everyone Gets Lighter by John Giorno Life is lots of presents, and every single day you get a big bunch of gifts under a sparkling pine tree hung with countless balls of colored lights; piles of presents wrapped in fancy paper, the red box with the green ribbon, and the green box with the red ribbon, and the blue one with silver, and the white one with gold. It's not what happens, it's how you handle it. You are in a water bubble human body, on a private jet in seemingly a god world, a glass of champagne, and a certain luminosity and emptiness, skin of air, a flat sea of white clouds below and the vast dome of blue sky above, and your mind is an iron nail in-between. It's not what happens, it's how you handle it. Dead cat bounce, catch the falling knife, after endless shadow boxing in your sleep, fighting in your dreams and knocking yourself out, you realize everything is empty, and appears as miraculous display, all are in nature the play of emptiness and clarity. Everyone gets lighter everyone gets lighter everyone gets lighter everyone gets lighter, everyone is light.
The Dial-A-Poem project, pioneered by John Giorno in the late 1960s, revolutionised the accessibility of poetry by offering recorded poems to listeners via telephone. This innovative initiative broke down barriers to poetry, making it available to anyone with access to a phone, and became a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and literature. Giorno's project showcased a diverse array of poets, ranging from established literary figures to emerging voices, and played a crucial role in expanding the reach and impact of contemporary poetry.
John Giorno's relationship with Andy Warhol was deeply influential and multifaceted. Giorno was a prominent figure in Warhol's artistic circle, serving as both a muse and collaborator. Warhol's iconic "Sleep" (1963), a six-hour film documenting Giorno sleeping, exemplifies their creative partnership. Giorno's involvement in Warhol's Factory scene, along with his own avant-garde projects, helped shape the landscape of 1960s counterculture and experimental art.
Here are some of John Giorno's poetry books:
"You Got to Burn to Shine" (1962)
"Poems of Hope and Despair" (1976)
"You Got to Burn to Shine: New and Selected Writings" (1994)
"Subduing Demons in America" (2008)
"Great Demon Kings: A Memoir of Poetry, Sex, Art, Death, and Enlightenment" (2010)
For those interested in experiencing Dial-A-Poem, the current phone number is [+1 (718) 957-2379] or from the UK, +44 (0)20 4538 8429
For anyone interested in supporting the writing of a poem in real time, clicky-clicky below, I’ll pop the kettle on, and get to work straightaway (or thereabouts!)