"measured choruses". Like Kaufman, Kerouac's
shamanic energy comes from Jazz. Similarly, the
altered temporality is indelibly shamanic.
However what makes Kerouac the definitive
Shamanic-poet is the fact that he was essentially
forefather of the beat generation, "leader of the
tribe". This is perpetuated in his exhaustive
influence on other beat generation writers and his
active part in the beat generation in terms of lived
experience. After all, he was the one who shouted
"Go" at the six gallery meeting, firing on all poets
present, a sort of shaman in presence.
Kerouac’s embracing of Eastern Mysticism and
Dharma put him in direct connection with a spirit
world and the shamanic ecstasies of ceremonial
initiation which would have been incurred by
marijuana and alcohol (Harvey & Wallis, 2007).
Kerouac’s poetry is deeply evocative. In 70 th
chorus, he speaks of "hills with lights" to "streets
with blood". He creates a plaintive aura of one
who surveys over all that is being created, he does
this through the spirit of the shaman-poet.
Kerouac's pure sound poetry does not come from
the haiku, which he believed to be too reduced a
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