LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Ferlinghetti was a trailblazer

OPINION:

Lawrence Ferlinghetti became a household name when I was young, as famous as the poet whose work he published and defended, Allen Ginsberg (“Beat poet, publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti dies at 101,” Web, Feb. 23). Everyone among the cultural avant garde back then followed his trial and most, thrilled by the new voice of Ginsberg in “Howl,” understood that while this example of Beat poetry was nothing like Percy Bysshe Shelley, neither was it simply an ersatz sample to be discarded as being below community standards. Both Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti were trailblazers within our common culture, the perceived societal ignominy of their youth transformed by their brave actions into staples of achievement.

PAUL BOUSTEIN

Cincinnati