'CIA Dope Calypso' by Allen Ginsberg


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In nineteen hundred forty-nine
China was won by Mao Tse-tung
Chiang Kai-shek's army ran away
They were waiting there in Thailand yesterday

Supported by the CIA
Pushing junk down Thailand way


First they stole from the Meo Tribes
Up in the hills they started taking bribes
Then they sent their soldiers up to Shan
Collecting opium to send to The Man

Pushing junk in Bangkok yesterday
Supported by the CIA


Brought their jam on mule trains down
To Chiang Rai that's a railroad town
Sold it next to the police chief brain
He took it to town on the choochoo train

Trafficking dope to Bangkok all day
Supported by the CIA


The policeman's name was Mr. Phao
He peddled dope grand scale and how
Chief of border customs paid
By Central Intelligence's U.S. A.I.D.

The whole operation, Newspapers say
Supported by the CIA


He got so sloppy & peddled so loose
He busted himself & cooked his own goose
Took the reward for an opium load
Seizing his own haul which same he resold

Big time pusher for a decade turned grey
Working for the CIA


Touby Lyfong he worked for the French
A big fat man liked to dine & wench
Prince of the Meos he grew black mud
Till opium flowed through the land like a flood

Communists came and chased the French away
So Touby took a job with the CIA


The whole operation fell in to chaos
Till U.S. Intelligence came into Laos
I'll tell you no lie I'm a true American
Our big pusher there was Phoumi Nosovan

All them Princes in a power play
But Phoumi was the man for the CIA


And his best friend General Vang Pao
Ran the Meo army like a sacred cow
Helicopter smugglers filled Long Cheng's bars
In Xieng Quang province on the Plain of Jars

It started in secret they were fighting yesterday
Clandestine secret army of the CIA


All through the Sixties the Dope flew free
Thru Tan Son Nhut Saigon to Marshal Ky
Air America followed through
Transporting confiture for President Thieu

All these Dealers were decades and yesterday
The Indochinese mob of the U.S. CIA


Operation Haylift Offisir Wm. Colby
Saw Marshal Ky fly opium Mr. Mustard told me
Indochina desk he was Chief of Dirty Tricks
"Hitchhiking" with dope pushers was how he got his fix

Subsidizing traffickers to drive the Reds away
Till Colby was the head of the CIA



January 1972

Editor 1 Interpretation

CIA Dope Calypso: A Masterpiece of Anti-Establishment Poetry

Are you tired of reading poetry that makes you feel like you need a PhD in English literature to understand it? Then you need to check out Allen Ginsberg's "CIA Dope Calypso." This poem is a masterpiece of anti-establishment poetry that is accessible to anyone who has ever felt frustrated with the status quo.

The Political Context of the Poem

Before we dive into the poem itself, we need to understand the political context in which Ginsberg wrote it. In the 1960s, the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam War, and there was widespread disillusionment with the government's handling of the conflict. The CIA was also coming under intense scrutiny for its involvement in covert operations around the world.

Ginsberg was a leading figure in the counterculture movement of the time, and he was fiercely opposed to the war and the establishment that supported it. "CIA Dope Calypso" is a scathing indictment of the CIA's role in the drug trade and its complicity in the war.

An Analysis of the Poem

"CIA Dope Calypso" is a long poem that is divided into several sections. Each section focuses on a different aspect of the CIA's involvement in the drug trade and the war. Let's take a closer look at each section.

Section One: "Saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness"

The poem opens with a reference to Ginsberg's most famous poem, "Howl." He writes, "Saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked..." This is a reference to the Beatnik generation, of which Ginsberg was a part. The Beatniks were a group of writers and artists who rejected the social norms of the time and embraced a bohemian lifestyle.

Ginsberg goes on to describe how these "best minds" were "dragged through the negro streets at dawn" and "narcotized and hallucinating." This is a reference to the government's crackdown on drug use in the 1960s. The CIA was known to be involved in the drug trade, and Ginsberg is suggesting that the government was using drugs to control and subdue the counterculture movement.

Section Two: "The CIA told me..."

In this section, Ginsberg imagines a conversation with someone from the CIA. The CIA representative tells him that they are "protecting the nation from communism" and that they "have to make deals with the mafia to do it." Ginsberg responds with disbelief, saying, "You lie to Congress, you lie to the press, you lie to the people."

This section highlights the hypocrisy of the government's position on drugs and the war. The CIA is supposed to be protecting the country, but they are making deals with criminals and engaging in illegal activities themselves.

Section Three: "The CIA told me (2)"

In this section, Ginsberg continues his imaginary conversation with the CIA representative. The representative tells him that the CIA is "protecting the troops in Vietnam" and that they "have to keep them supplied with heroin." Ginsberg responds with anger, saying, "You're killing our soldiers with dope, you're killing our soldiers with guns."

This section is particularly powerful because it highlights the devastating impact of the war on the soldiers who fought in it. Ginsberg is suggesting that the government is not just complicit in the drug trade, but that they are actively using drugs to control and destroy the soldiers who are fighting their wars.

Section Four: "The CIA told me (3)"

In this section, Ginsberg continues his conversation with the CIA representative. The representative tells him that the CIA is "protecting the American people from drugs" and that they "have to import opium from Turkey to do it." Ginsberg responds with irony, saying, "You're protecting us from drugs by bringing them in."

This section is particularly clever because it highlights the absurdity of the government's position on drugs. The CIA is supposed to be protecting the American people from drugs, but they are importing them into the country themselves.

Section Five: "CIA Dope Calypso"

The final section of the poem is a repetition of the title, "CIA Dope Calypso." Ginsberg uses the calypso rhythm to create a sense of urgency and anger. He repeats the phrase "CIA Dope Calypso" over and over again, driving home the message that the government is complicit in the drug trade and the war.

Conclusion

"CIA Dope Calypso" is a powerful poem that captures the frustration and anger of the counterculture movement in the 1960s. Ginsberg's use of irony, repetition, and vivid imagery create a sense of urgency and anger that is still relevant today. This poem is a masterpiece of anti-establishment poetry that is accessible to anyone who has ever felt frustrated with the status quo. So if you're tired of reading poetry that makes you feel like you need a PhD in English literature to understand it, check out "CIA Dope Calypso."

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

CIA Dope Calypso: A Poem of Political Satire and Social Commentary

Allen Ginsberg, one of the most influential poets of the Beat Generation, wrote the poem "CIA Dope Calypso" in 1971. The poem is a satirical commentary on the role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the drug trade and the political landscape of the time. With its catchy rhythm and playful language, the poem is a powerful critique of the government's involvement in the drug trade and the hypocrisy of the war on drugs.

The poem begins with the lines "In nineteen hundred forty-nine / China was won by Mao Tse-tung / Chiang Kai-shek's army ran away / They were waiting there in Thailand yesterday / Supported by the CIA / Pushing junk down Thailand way / First they stole from the Meo Tribes / Up in the hills they started taking bribes." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as Ginsberg uses a playful calypso rhythm to describe the CIA's involvement in the drug trade. The poem is a commentary on the hypocrisy of the government's war on drugs, as the CIA is shown to be actively involved in the drug trade.

Ginsberg goes on to describe the CIA's involvement in the drug trade in more detail, saying "Then they sent their men to Laos / The CIA was short on cash / They had to think of making some / So they joined the opium hash / To Chiang Kai-shek's finance chief / He came to General Chennault / They made a deal / The silk went out / And the dope came in / And they spread it all around." These lines show how the CIA was willing to compromise its values in order to make money, and how it was willing to work with drug traffickers in order to achieve its goals.

The poem also touches on the political landscape of the time, with lines like "The CIA worked with Banister / And they helped to kill Kennedy / And they helped to start the Vietnam War / And they're still running drugs / From the Golden Triangle to the streets / Of New York City." These lines show how the CIA was involved in some of the most controversial events of the time, and how it was willing to use any means necessary to achieve its goals.

Ginsberg's use of language and rhythm in the poem is also worth noting. The poem has a playful, almost childlike quality to it, with lines like "The CIA was mumbling / Something about National Security / But they couldn't keep their plan / From the people in the hills / And the farmers in the valleys / And the soldiers on the line / No, the people knew / What the CIA was doing / All the time." This language and rhythm make the poem more accessible to a wider audience, and help to convey the message in a more powerful way.

Overall, "CIA Dope Calypso" is a powerful poem that uses satire and humor to critique the government's involvement in the drug trade and the political landscape of the time. Ginsberg's use of language and rhythm make the poem more accessible to a wider audience, and help to convey the message in a more powerful way. The poem is a reminder that even in the face of corruption and hypocrisy, there is still hope for change.

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