ext_12684 ([identity profile] moireach.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] greatpoetry2006-06-05 03:38 pm

Steps, Frank O'Hara

Steps
Frank O'Hara

How funny you are today New York
like Ginger Rogers in Swingtime
and St. Bridget’s steeple leaning a little to the left

here I have just jumped out of a bed full of V-days
(I got tired of D-days) and blue you there still
accepts me foolish and free
all I want is a room up there
and you in it
and even the traffic halt so thick is a way
for people to rub up against each other
and when their surgical appliances lock
they stay together
for the rest of the day (what a day)
I go by to check a slide and I say
that painting’s not so blue

where's Lana Turner
she's out eating
and Garbo’s backstage at the Met
everyone's taking their coat off
so they can show a rib-cage to the rib-watchers
and the park's full of dancers with their tights and shoes
in little bags
who are often mistaken for worker-outers at the West Side Y
why not
the Pittsburgh Pirates shout because they won
and in a sense we’re all winning
we're alive

the apartment was vacated by a gay couple
who moved to the country for fun
they moved a day too soon
even the stabbings are helping the population explosion
though in the wrong country
and all those liars have left the UN
the Seagram Building's no longer rivalled in interest
not that we need liquor (we just like it)

and the little box is out on the sidewalk
next to the delicatessen
so the old man can sit on it and drink beer
and get knocked off it by his wife later in the day
while the sun is still shining

oh god it's wonderful
to get out of bed
and drink too much coffee
and smoke too many cigarettes
and love you so much


(The ultimate happy summer-in-the-city poem? I am more than pleased to consider any contenders.)

[identity profile] ragingimpotence.livejournal.com 2006-06-05 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
my friend is watching 'the pianist' and that coupled with this poem inspired me to write one, not a contender for yours at all, but it's on my journal. just wrote it.

[identity profile] lightgirlfx.livejournal.com 2006-06-05 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
fantastic!
you made my day *thanks* "-)

challenge accepted!

[identity profile] mixedupfiles.livejournal.com 2006-06-05 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
all that
by Charles Bukowski

the only things I remember about
New York City
in the summer
are the fire escapes
and how the people go
out on the fire escapes
in the evening
when the sun is setting
on the other side
of the buildings
and some stretch out
and sleep there
while others sit quietly
where it's cool.

and on many
of the window sills
sit pots of geraniums or
planters filled with red
geraniums
and the half-dressed people
rest there
on the fire escapes
and there are
red geraniums
everywhere.

this is really
something to see rather
than to talk about.

it's like a great colorful
and surprising painting
not hanging anywhere
else.

[identity profile] etelleadit.livejournal.com 2006-06-05 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)

Re: challenge accepted!

[identity profile] ragingimpotence.livejournal.com 2006-06-06 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
nice user picture. it's my desktop. ; )

Re: challenge accepted!

[identity profile] mixedupfiles.livejournal.com 2006-06-08 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, sometimes I find him realy annoying and gimmicky, but sometimes I really love him. OH CB.

[identity profile] oh-swings.livejournal.com 2006-06-06 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
this poem always makes me grin. thank you.

[identity profile] mindfulness.livejournal.com 2006-06-06 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
That left me with a smile and uplifted imagination. Thankyou.

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_ananda_/ 2006-06-06 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, that's wonderful... thanks for making me smile : )