Taken in August 1970 during the photo shoot which led to the cover image for Carnivorous Saint. The photographer was poet and filmmaker Ira Cohen using mylar screens to create images of liquid opium.

Todd Swindell, friend, with Harold Norse three days before his death. This is the last photo taken of Harold alive. The spinning object is a Tibetan prayer wheel containing the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of compassion. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Harold with Kevin Killian & James Broughton in San Francisco in 1987. Photo by Alex Gildzen.

Harold Norse and two of his books, December 25, 2003. Photo by Betty Best.

Harold Norse during his ballet dancer days in New York City, circa 1937. Photo by Marcus Bleckman, great-nephew of Sarah Bernhardt.

Harold Norse in Venice, CA circa 1969. This was the photo that made Charles Bukowski jealous.

At the Cafe Trieste, North Beach, San Francisco, 1975. Left to right: Allen Ginsberg, Harold Norse, Jack Hirschman, Michael McClure & Bob Kaufman. Photo by Diana Church.

At the Cafe Trieste, North Beach, San Francisco, 1975. Left to right: Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Minelte Le Blanc, Peter Le Blanc, Allen Ginsberg, Harold Norse, Jack Hirschman & Bob Kaufman. Photo by Diana Church.

Gerard Malanga and Harold Horse, Union Square, San Francisco, 1973. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse in Arcil, Morocco 1962. Photo by Paul Bowles.

Harold Norse and Neeli Cherkovski, date unknown

Harold Norse at the Cafe Trieste circa late 1970’s.

Harold Norse in front of City Lights Bookstore window promoting the release of his cut-up novella Beat Hotel, May 15, 1983

Harold Norse in the bedroom of his Albion Street cottage, November 11, 1999. Photo by Todd Swindell.

Harold Norse and Peter Orlovsky, Naropa Insitute, July 1980. Photo by Michael Kellner.

Harold Norse in Union Square, San Francisco, 1973. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse in San Francisco, 1981. Photo by Ira Cohen.

Harold Norse in San Francisco, 1981. Photo by Ira Cohen.

Harold Norse circa 1970’s. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse circa 1970’s. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse circa 1960’s

Harold Norse near the Bay Bridge, November 1972. Photo by Neil Hollier.

Harold Norse at his apartment on Guy Place, 1974. Photo by William Childress.

Harold Norse in 1984. Photo by Robert Pruzan.

Harold Norse and William S. Burroughs at Naropa Institue, July 1980. Photo by Michael Kellner.

Harold Norse executing a tour jete enl’air. He had begun to be a ballet dancer in New York after leaving home in Brooklyn and finishing college, circa 1938.

Harold Norse circa 1960’s

Harold Norse circa early 1970’s. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse, circa early 1970’s. Photo by Frances McCann.

Harold Norse circa early 1970’s

Harold Norse in Venice, CA, July 1969

Harold Norse in San Francisco, Novemeber 1972. Photo by Neil Hollier.

Harold Norse in Paris in the early 1960’s. Photo by Martha Rocher.

Photo by Ira Cohen, “For Harold, It was great to see you. Here’s one photo of you w/ the great SHMOOZER. Mr. Gerard Malanga, who surprised you by not knowing that a BJ was “ALL THE WAY.” Best, Ira 1995″

William S. Burroughs & Harold Norse reading at Naropa Institute, July 1980. Photo by Michael Kellner.

Harold Norse in Crete, 1963. Photo by Thanassis.

Harold Norse circa 1950’s

Harold Norse at The Beat Hotel

Madame Rachou with Harold Norse. He asked me to take these pictures in January 1963, when,after 32 years, Mme Rachou “the bluehaired old mother of us all”, retired and moved to a flat nearby. The hotel had been sold, the handle of the cafe door had been removed, and a notice in the window read : “Closed fro alteration”. The Beat Hotel had ceased to exist.

Gay Sunshine, a benefit reading. Harold Norse, Allen Ginsberg, John Rechy, William Barber, Aaron Shurin, Dennis Cooper, Neeli Cherkovski, Robert Gluck. 7:30 Friday May 27, 1977, Glide Memorial Church

Todd Swindell, friend, with Harold three days before his death. The spinning object is a Tibetan prayer wheel contain the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of compassion. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Harold Norse at North Beach’s Beat Museum with proprietor Jerry Cimino, 2007. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Poet Harold Norse in his apartment kitchen, 157 Albion Street, San Francisco, May 28, 1988 – for HN with old Affection from Allen Ginsberg AH (c. Allen Ginsberg Estate)

Harold Norse, March 4, 1988. Harold Norse is a small man, but exudes a certain brawn. He also delights in being the bad boy, a quality that struck me as particularly Catholic. These aspects of Norse led me to photograph him thusly in the mud room of his Mission District apartment. By Rob Lee.

Monday, July 16, 2007. Legendary queer beat poet and writer Harold Norse, who’s very much alive and kicking, celebrated his 91st birthday on Sunday at the funky Beat Museum in North Beach. Surrounded by many dear friends and admirers, Norse read from his work, spoke about his Beat life, ate a slice of chocolate birthday cake and signed books for fans. I had never met him so I made sure to get to his party and reading, just to shake his hand and snap some pix of him. Loud and big thanks to Todd Swindell, Tate Swindell, Mark Vermeulen, Jerry Cimino and the entire staff at the Beat Museum for pulling the event together. Happy 91st birthday, Harold! From The Petrelis Files. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Harold signing books for a line of fans. From The Petrelis Files. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Monday, July 16, 2007. Two crotchety, opinionated, veteran queers giving each other the “Yeah, right. Who the hell do you think you are?” look. Harold on the right, Michael Petrelis on the left. From The Petrelis Files. Photo by Tate Swindell.

Harold Norse, a poet, writer and painter from the USA. He moved in to Bob and Ver’s room long after they had left. In the “City Lights Journal” he wrote, in February 1963; “Last September I got Room 9 at 9, Rue Git-le Coeur on the 9th day of the 9th month…. In the cabbala, 9 is the number referring to initiates and prophets”….