Peter Orlovsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Orlovsky
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Orlovsky (right) with Allen Ginsberg, 1978
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Peter Anton Orlovsky
July 8, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | May 30, 2010 (aged 76) Williston, Vermont, U.S.
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| Resting place | Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Years active | 1953–2008 |
| Partner(s) | Allen Ginsberg (1954-1997; Ginsberg's death) |
Peter Anton Orlovsky (born July 8, 1933 – died May 30, 2010) was an American poet and actor. He was well-known as the long-time friend and creative partner of the famous poet Allen Ginsberg.
Contents
Early Life and Creative Journey
Peter Orlovsky was born in New York City in an area called the Lower East Side. His father, Oleg Orlovsky, was an immigrant from Russia. Peter grew up in a family that faced many challenges. He had to leave Newtown High School before finishing his last year. This was so he could help support his family.
After working many different small jobs, he started working at a hospital. He was an orderly at Creedmoor State Mental Hospital. An orderly helps patients and keeps the hospital tidy.
In 1953, when he was nineteen, Peter joined the United States Army. This was during the Korean War. Army doctors decided he should work as a medic in a hospital in San Francisco. A medic helps care for sick or injured people. Later, he studied at Columbia University.
Meeting Allen Ginsberg and Starting to Write
Peter met Allen Ginsberg in San Francisco in December 1954. At the time, Peter was working as a model for a painter named Robert La Vigne. Before meeting Ginsberg, Peter had not planned to become a poet.
Peter and Allen became very close friends and creative partners. They supported each other's artistic work. With Allen's encouragement, Peter began writing poetry in 1957. They were living in Paris at the time.
Peter traveled a lot with other writers. They visited places like the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Europe. He also helped with Allen Ginsberg's 1970 music album. It was called Songs of Innocence and Experience. This album was based on poems by William Blake. Peter even sang on some of the songs.
In 1974, Peter Orlovsky became a teacher at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. This school is part of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. He taught poetry there. In 1979, he received a special grant of $10,000. A grant is money given to artists to help them continue their creative work. This grant came from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Later Years and Passing
In May 2010, Peter Orlovsky had been sick with lung cancer for several months. His friends shared that he moved from his home in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, to the Vermont Respite House in Williston. A respite house is a place where people can receive comforting care.
He passed away there on May 30, 2010. He was 76 years old. His death was due to problems from his illness. Peter was buried at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. The words on his grave say: "Train will tug my grave, my breathe hueing gentil vapor between weel & track".
Published Poetry Works
Peter Orlovsky's poetry was published in several books:
- Dear Allen, Ship will land Jan 23, 58 (1971)
- Lepers Cry (1972)
- Straight Hearts' Delight: Love Poems and Selected Letters (with Allen Ginsberg) (1980)
- Dick Tracy's Gelber Hut und andere Gedichte (a German translation) (1984)
- Sauber abgewischt (another German translation by Marcus Roloff) (2020)
His poems also appeared in important collections. These include The New American Poetry 1945–1960 (1960) and The Beatitude Anthology (1965). His work was also featured in literary magazines like Yugen and Outsider.
Images for kids
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Orlovsky (right) with Allen Ginsberg, 1978
