Diane di Prima, a seminal figure in the Beat Generation and a revolutionary voice in feminist literature, left a profound legacy at Naropa University as a co-founder of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. Renowned for her powerful use of stream of consciousness and meticulous attention to form, di Prima’s work resonated deeply within the countercultural and feminist movements of her time. As Poet Laureate of San Francisco, she carved out a space for radical, transformative writing, often challenging societal norms and facing significant personal risk, including arrests and harassment by the FBI for her bold and provocative work with the New York Poets Theatre and The Floating Bear, a publication she co-edited with Amiri Baraka.
At Naropa, from 1974 to 1997, di Prima played a pivotal role in shaping the Jack Kerouac School, teaching poetry alongside fellow luminaries such as Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, William Burroughs, and Gregory Corso. Her presence at Naropa infused the program with a spirit of creative rebellion and literary innovation, inspiring generations of poets to explore the intersections of poetry, politics, and personal experience. Diane di Prima’s contributions to Naropa extended far beyond the classroom, as she nurtured a community of writers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of literary expression and social consciousness.
