Allen Ginsberg "A Supermarket in California"

Allen Ginsberg in his poem titled “A Supermarket in California” is seeking inspiration and guidance from Walt Whitman, who was a poet before Ginsberg’s time. He reaches out to Whitman because he notices the lack of change in America which Whitman believed would occur over the years. Poem’s like the “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry” by Whitman, spoke about the future of America which Ginsberg is desperately trying to address. He was alive in the future world which Whitman only wrote about.
As a homosexual male in America, Ginsberg most likely felt much more comfortable and honored to bring an important figure such as Whitman who was also a homosexual. The unity of families which Ginsberg brings up in his poem leaves him feeling like he does not belong in this new, modern American world. However, although years passed and America had been through socialist and political movements, Ginsberg notices that Whitman’s promises and ideas which he believed would come true one day, failed to take place. Whitman in his poem, “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry”, was observing people who went on with their ordinary day, simply crossing riding the ferry to and from work. Ginsberg finds himself at a supermarket doing the same exact thing that Whitman was, as he observes husbands in the aisles with their wives and children, and perhaps feels left out, as if he does not belong. Ginsberg states, “I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd” (8-9). To me, this means that Ginsberg is wishing he, too was able to find himself at a “normal”, and/or “domestic-like” place as a supermarket, with his lover without it causing controversy. Perhaps the inspiration which Ginsberg needs from Whitman is actually courage to look into the future and believe that it will only bring forth better things, such as acceptance for all people.