A Supermarket in California

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1956

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Related Poems

"Howl" by Allen Ginsberg (1956)

Published alongside “A Supermarket in California” in Howl and Other Poems, “Howl” is one of Ginsberg’s most well-known works. The poem put Ginsberg on the map and made him one of the most well-known faces of the Beat Movement, as “Howl” was embraced favorably almost immediately upon Ginsberg’s first reading of the work at Six Gallery, becoming part of the movement’s canon.

"Kaddish" by Allen Ginsberg (1959)

Considered to be another one of Ginsberg’s most successful poems, “Kaddish” is an elegy dedicated to his mother, Naomi. The title refers to the mourner’s prayer or “The Mourners’ Kaddish” in Judaism, typically recited in the mornings and at funerals and memorial services. Many poets and scholars consider this work alongside “Howl” to be Ginsberg’s greatest contribution to the genre.

"Ode to Walt Whitman" by Federico Garcia Lorca (1929)

Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, who is mentioned in “A Supermarket in California,” wrote his own ode to Walt Whitman. Much like Ginsberg, Lorca uses his ode to Whitman as a lens with which to provide a critique of American society.

"I Sing the Body Electric" by Walt Whitman (1855)

Published in his masterwork Leaves of Grass, “I Sing the Body Electric” is a poem largely indicative of Whitman’s writing style.

Further Literary Resources

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg (1956)

The book in which “A Supermarket in California” was published, Howl and Other Poems remains one of Ginsberg’s hallmark works.

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (1855)

Walt Whitman’s most well-known work, Leaves of Grass inspired not only Ginsberg but generations of poets around the world. Leaves of Grass is even mentioned in “A Supermarket in California,” which was written on the centennial of the book’s original publication. Leaves of Grass, much like Howl and Other Poems, received harsh criticism and, at points throughout its publication history, was banned due to the text’s homoerotic tones.

"A Brief Guide to the Beat Poets" by poets.org

A brief article highlighting the key poets writing within the Beat Movement, as well as providing general historical background and a look into the larger implications of the movement itself.

Listen to Poem

Allen Ginsberg reads “A Supermarket in California”

Listen to the poet read “A Supermarket in California” from his Manhattan apartment, as part of the “Poetry Breaks” series created by Leita Luchetti in the 1980s and 1990s.