points of origin

Every conversation has to start somewhere, and so does ours. We will begin by responding to two American poets, Langston Hughes and Allen Ginsberg, who have both addressed America in their work. The two poems can be found here and here.

Even though we're not setting out to "say" anything specific about America (at least not yet), there are still certain consequences that result from every choice we make in this process. We're starting out with two poets who, at least early in their careers, were not considered part of the "mainstream" of American literature. Their respective addresses to America come from what might have been called at the time the "margins" of American culture.

Does anyone else have any suggestions about where else we might have started? Other poets or writers (or non-writers) who spoke with or interrogated America?