Frank O’Hara – “Song”

What’s this?  Can it be?  Yes, another consecutive poem of the week from yours truly.  This week’s poem comes from a collection of Frank O’Hara I own: Lunch Poems.  I particularly enjoy the use of punctuation in this poem.  The two instances in which he uses periods really add a lot to the way the poem was read by me.  I hope that the poem resonates with some of you out there as well.

Stephen R.

Song

Is it dirty
does it look dirty
that’s what you think of in the city

does it just seem dirty
that’s what you think of in the city
you don’t refuse to breathe do you

someone comes along with a very bad character
he seems attractive. is he really. yes. very
he’s attractive as his character is bad. is it. yes

that’s what you think of in the city
run your fingers along your no-moss mind
that’s not a thought that’s soot

and you take a lot of dirt off someone
is the character less bad. no. it improves constantly
you don’t refuse to breathe do you

– Frank O’Hara

Related articles

• Chelsea Light Moving – “Frank O’Hara Hit,” Take 2 (stereogum.com)
• Is It Dirty: A Love Letter to New York’s Grit from Frank O’Hara, 1964 (brainpickings.org)
• Some other sign (yabottherobot.com)