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Ken's Reviews > The Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara
The Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara
by
by
One of those giant books of poetry that at times serves as "dip in" book while reading others and at times serves as "my main read."
Because this collects just about everything O'Hara wrote, it's a mixed, mixed bag. Add to that the fact that he often comes across as so casual and so cavalier that you wonder, "How's he doing this?" Oh. And, "Why can't I, too?"
Because, fool. There's only one Frank O'Hara, and he had his moment. The record of it is here.
Because this collects just about everything O'Hara wrote, it's a mixed, mixed bag. Add to that the fact that he often comes across as so casual and so cavalier that you wonder, "How's he doing this?" Oh. And, "Why can't I, too?"
Because, fool. There's only one Frank O'Hara, and he had his moment. The record of it is here.
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Reading Progress
February 2, 2019
–
9.62%
"A Rant
"What you wanted I told you"
I said "and what you left me
I took! Don't stand around
my bedroom making things cry
any more! I'm not going to
thrash the floor or throw any
apples! To hell with the radio,
let it rot! I'm not going to be
the monster in my own bed
any more!" Well. The silence
was too easily arrive at; most
oppressive. The pictures swung
on the wall with boredom and
the plants imagined us all..."
page
60
"What you wanted I told you"
I said "and what you left me
I took! Don't stand around
my bedroom making things cry
any more! I'm not going to
thrash the floor or throw any
apples! To hell with the radio,
let it rot! I'm not going to be
the monster in my own bed
any more!" Well. The silence
was too easily arrive at; most
oppressive. The pictures swung
on the wall with boredom and
the plants imagined us all..."
February 2, 2019
–
9.62%
"...in
Trinidad. I was crowded with
windows. I raced to the door.
"Come back" I cried "for a minute!
You left your new shoes. And the
coffee pot's yours!" There were no
footsteps. Wow! what a relief!
Young O'Hara. Footloose and fancy-free with the exclamation points and superfluous words, thoughts, etc. Like I said: awfully wonderful and wonderfully awful."
page
60
Trinidad. I was crowded with
windows. I raced to the door.
"Come back" I cried "for a minute!
You left your new shoes. And the
coffee pot's yours!" There were no
footsteps. Wow! what a relief!
Young O'Hara. Footloose and fancy-free with the exclamation points and superfluous words, thoughts, etc. Like I said: awfully wonderful and wonderfully awful."
April 28, 2019
–
Started Reading
April 28, 2019
– Shelved
April 29, 2019
–
45.35%
"Picked this up again between books because nobody I know reads 600 pages straight of a single poet's full oeuvre. As I approach p. 300, old Frank is hitting his stride, only his informality is probably a bad influence on me as a poet myself. Just try to write like Frank, the book seems to be saying. OK, I reply. Easy. (Only then just try to sell the result. OK. Not so easy.)"
page
283
June 2, 2019
– Shelved as:
finished-in-2019
June 2, 2019
– Shelved as:
poetry
June 2, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-2 of 2 (2 new)
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by
Dolors
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rated it 5 stars
Jun 03, 2019 07:11AM
Great review, thanks.
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