美国垮掉派终身桂冠诗人乔·基德

Poetics Multilingual Mag

MY RESPONSE TO LIFETIME BEAT POET LAUREATE

Five years ago, if you would have told me I would be named as a Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate, I surely would not have believed you. Back then the beat poets were legends in my mind. I had met Allen Ginsberg at Jewel Heart Buddhist Center in Ann Arbor. Other than that, they were alive only on my home library bookshelves.

I never imagined to be recognized as a Beat writer specifically although in my heart I was always in full communion with the movement. It was the attitude and lifestyle of defiance, rebellion, and courageous resistance of the power of authority that resonated with me from my very early years.

I was being informed by warriors like Che Guevara, John Trudell, Muhammad Ali, Bobby Sands. Reading Carlos Castaneda, Arthur Rimbaud. Listening to Beethoven, Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, Bob Dylan. I made sure to put myself in the presence of greatness whenever possible, Pope John Paul II, Dalai Lama, President Bill Clinton, Muhammad Ali, all 4 Beatles. It was my intent to witness their power and their command. I learned from their actions and their voices in person, understanding what allowed and empowered them to stand in the light of a dark society.

I have used what I have observed and experienced to impact the world through my own language. My poetry is written in the language of my thoughts, the internal dialog that is constantly running. It keeps me awake at night, it asks questions that have no answer. It is an awareness of awareness, an infinite mirror that reflects all that is. The world that I inhabit is neither chaos nor order. It has no real past and no real future. I do not rely upon my history. I have always been “different”, both physically and intellectually. Like King David, I have suffered and then been chosen to succeed. I reject the idea of instruction, healing, or salvation through poetry. I embrace the poetry that employs the creation and expansion of new environments.

I have accomplished almost everything I have ever desired. I have started at the bottom and rose to the top in my endeavors. I have never had a plan. I have never been bored. I have never been lonely. I have never been comfortable.

This appointment will not affect my ability to put into action my agendas. My hope is that it may add a credential that will open doors for future projects to entertain the innocent and expose the guilty.

On this day I accept this title with humble gratitude. I am thankful for what this organization has brought to the house of Joe & Sheila.

I must acknowledge the heroes of my youth who carried me through the storms to the position that I hold today.

I recognize Debbie Tosun Kilday and my fellow poets of NBPF for their support of my work.

I genuflect to Sheila Burke, the woman who owns my heart and my soul for eternity.

I wish you Peace.

‑ Joe Kidd – Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate ‑

乔·基德: 获终身垮掉派桂冠诗人感言

五年前，如果有人告诉我，我将来会被授予终身垮派桂冠诗人，我一定不会相信。那时在我心中，垮派诗人都是传奇人物。我曾在安娜堡的珍宝心佛教中心见过艾伦·金斯堡。除此之外，他们只活在我自家书房的书架之上。

我从未想过自己会被认定为垮派作家，尽管在内心深处，我始终与这一精神运动心意相通。垮派那份蔑视世俗、反叛传统、勇敢对抗权威的姿态与生活方式，自年少时就深深触动了我。

切·格瓦拉、约翰·特鲁德尔、穆罕默德·阿里、鲍比·桑兹这些斗士启迪过我。我阅读卡洛斯·卡斯塔涅达、阿蒂尔·兰波的作品，聆听贝多芬、伍迪·格思里、约翰·列侬、鲍勃·迪伦的音乐。只要有机会，我总会尽量去亲赴伟大人物的身旁：教皇约翰·保罗二世、达赖喇嘛、比尔·克林顿总统、穆罕默德·阿里，还有全部四位披头士成员。我希望亲眼见证他们身上蕴藏的力量与气场。我从他们的言行当中汲取养分，领悟是什么支撑着他们，让他们能够在幽暗的世间站在光明之中。

我将自己观察与体悟所得，借由专属的文字向外传递。我的诗歌，书写内心思绪，是永不停歇的自我对话。它令我夜不能寐，不断抛出无解的追问。它是一种对觉知本身的觉知，如同一面无垠之镜，映照世间万象。我身处的世界，既非全然混乱，也非绝对有序，没有真正意义上的过往，也没有既定的未来。我不依附自身的经历标签。无论外在体魄还是内在思想，我向来与众不同。如同大卫王，历经磨难之后，迎来命运的垂青。我不认同诗歌能够教化世人、疗愈伤痛或是带来救赎。我所秉持的诗歌，致力于全新精神境界的创造与拓展。

几乎所有心之所向的事，我都已经实现。我白手起家，在自己求索的道路上一路攀登至高处。我从未预设人生规划，不曾感到百无聊赖，也未尝深陷孤寂，只是始终无法安于现状。

这份荣誉不会改变我践行自身理念的脚步。我只愿这份头衔能够成为一份资质，为今后的项目打开更多门路：守护无辜之人，揭露罪恶行径。

今日，我怀着谦卑与感恩接受这一称号。感谢基金会为乔一家所带来的一切。

我感念青年时代那些引领我闯过风雨、成就今日之我的精神榜样。

感谢黛比·托森·基尔戴与美国国家垮掉派诗歌基金会诸位同仁，对我的创作给予支持。

我向希拉·伯克致以最深的敬意，她永恒占据着我的灵魂与内心。

愿诸位平安。

——乔·基德

终身垮派桂冠诗人

注释

Beat Poet：垮掉派/垮掉一代诗人，美国战后标志性诗歌流派

Joe Kidd

Joe Kidd's career reaches back to the late 1970s, when he fronted The White Lines, a Detroit rock band that earned considerable regional respect, and that foundation in live performance informed the depth and discipline he later brought to his literary work. He published "The Invisible Waterhole" in 2020, a collection of spiritual and sensual verse, followed in 2024 by "Digging Underground‑Portrait of a Beat Poet Laureate," a short autobiography that chronicles his years as a working poet, performing artist, and political revolutionary & social activist. Kidd served as Beat Poet Laureate of Michigan from 2022 to 2024, currently serves as Official Poet for the nation of Birland North Africa. He is an inductee into the Michigan Rock & Roll Legends Hall of Fame, an active member of Poets Against Racism and Hate, 100,000 Poets For Change, and a Regional Representative for the International Singer Songwriter Association. Joe Kidd received an Honorary Doctorate from International Union Peace Federation, and was a 2024 Pushcart Prize Nominee.

His appointment as an Official Woody Guthrie Poet in July 2026, together with his designation as Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate in September, confirms a trajectory that has moved steadily toward broader institutional and global recognition.

As a youth following high school in Southern California, Kidd left the comfort of his home to live in a commune with members of the White Panther Party, a fearless and radical tribe of rebels in Ann Arbor Michigan led by the late John Sinclair. From there he hitch hiked alone through the Midwest, sang with Joe Walsh & The James Gang, later with Buddy Miles Express. Was a carnival worker, at 19 he spent 30 days in county jail. Formed a Rock & Roll band that lasted 13 years. Fathered a lovely, talented, and rebellious daughter.

Today along with Sheila Burke, an exceptional vocalist and writer of rare voice, insight, and talent, he continues to work on behalf of the marginalized and oppressed people of the world who are subjected to the cruelty and brutality of governments and corporations. Together they have personally delivered their message to 10 countries in Europe as well as Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and 36 states in the USA. They have recorded and released a number of award winning songs of cultural diversity, social justice, and world peace.

As a former member of the Teamsters Union, Joe realizes the struggles of working men and women, and as a former student of Sacred Heart Catholic Seminary in Detroit, he has a close up, inside knowledge of the workings and the intentions of church teachings.

Joe has vowed to keep his voice raised, his poetry true, and his work humble and honest in whatever capacity he may continue to possess.

乔·基德（Joe Kidd）简介

乔·基德的创作生涯始于20世纪70年代末。彼时他担任底特律“白线”摇滚乐队主唱，这支乐队在当地颇具声望。舞台演出积淀下的阅历，为他日后文学创作赋予了思想深度与严谨特质。

2020年，他出版诗集《隐秘水潭》，收录诸多兼具灵性与感性的诗作。2024年，自传短篇集《深挖地下——一位垮掉派桂冠诗人画像》问世，记述了他职业诗人、表演艺术家、政治革新者与社会活动家的岁月历程。

2022至2024年，他出任密歇根州垮掉派桂冠诗人，现任北非比尔兰公国官方诗人。他入选密歇根摇滚名人堂，是“诗人反种族仇恨组织”、“十万诗人促变革”团体活跃成员，同时担任国际词曲作者协会地区代表。乔·基德获国际和平联合会荣誉博士学位，并且入围2024年普什卡特文学奖。

2026年7月，他获授伍迪·格思里官方诗人称号；同年9月又被授予终身垮掉派桂冠诗人。一连串荣誉见证他一步步获得更多官方认可与国际声誉。

青年时代，他在南加州读完高中后，告别安逸的家庭生活，前往密歇根州安娜堡市，加入由已故的约翰·辛克莱领导的白豹党公社，那是一群无畏激进的反叛者。此后他独自搭便车游历美国中西部，先后与乔·沃尔什及詹姆斯帮派乐队、巴迪·迈尔斯特快乐队同台演唱。他也曾在嘉年华打工，19岁时被关押县监狱三十天。他组建过一支存续十三年的摇滚乐队，养育了一位聪慧、有天赋且个性叛逆的女儿。

如今，他与天赋出众、见解独到的歌唱家、作家希拉·伯克携手，持续为全球受政府与强权企业压迫的弱势人群发声。二人亲赴欧洲十国，以及加拿大、墨西哥、牙买加和美国三十六个州传播理念，录制发行多首获奖歌曲，主题围绕多元文化、社会正义与世界和平。

乔曾是卡车司机工会成员，深知普通劳动者生存之艰；也曾就读于底特律圣心天主教神学院，对于教会教义的运作逻辑与内在诉求有着切身深入的了解。

乔立下誓言：无论今后身处何种境遇，都会仗义执言、坚守诗歌本真，保持创作谦卑赤诚。