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yung_sch0lar's review against another edition
5.0
So, so glad that I finally had a chance to read a full book of Frank O'Hara poetry instead of just a few poems here and there.
adamz24's review against another edition
5.0
One of the great 20th century books of poetry. Deserves some notice for its formal qualities, but, perhaps to its credit, O'Hara's poetry really hits at the gut level. It is beautiful, melancholy, funny, and deeply human; intellectual, but not straining after intellect, sad but not mopey, fairly unconventional but tastefully restrained.
The finest poems here are "For James Dean," "Meditations in an Emergency," "Mayakovsky," and "For Grace, After a Party."
" Now I am quietly waiting for
the catastrophe of my personality
to seem beautiful again,
and interesting, and modern."
The finest poems here are "For James Dean," "Meditations in an Emergency," "Mayakovsky," and "For Grace, After a Party."
" Now I am quietly waiting for
the catastrophe of my personality
to seem beautiful again,
and interesting, and modern."
mishakhamseh's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful poems that give you the feeling of New York circa 1950s city life looming in the background. At times exciting and fast-paced, and other times calming and sensitive, with a hint of existentialism. Having heard the last part of the hauntingly beautiful poem ‘Mayakovsky’ in Mad Men’s Season 2 episode ‘For Those Who Think Young’, I was inspired to read the whole booklet, and I have to say that it did not disappoint. Although I liked some poems much more than others, I did really enjoy the reading experience. Some poems I will carry with me throughout life.
zosiablue's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5) "...like someone always losing something and never knowing what."
O'Hara is a genius and the lines that floor me, floor me. He isn't my kind of poet, though. He was a storyteller who wrote prescriptively with each word carefully chosen. A poet meant to be read aloud! I like my poets sloppier and less confident. Just a preference. O'Hara deserves the accolades and then some.
PS: Did I read this book because I'm rewatching Mad Men & Don reads it? Who can say.
O'Hara is a genius and the lines that floor me, floor me. He isn't my kind of poet, though. He was a storyteller who wrote prescriptively with each word carefully chosen. A poet meant to be read aloud! I like my poets sloppier and less confident. Just a preference. O'Hara deserves the accolades and then some.
PS: Did I read this book because I'm rewatching Mad Men & Don reads it? Who can say.
lilyreads's review against another edition
4.0
"Now I am quietly waiting for / the catastrophe of my personality / to seem beautiful again, / and interesting, and modern."
Some of the poems in this collection went over my head, but the language and turns of phrases were stunning enough that I didn't really mind. Especially loved "Mayakovsky" and the titular "Meditations in an Emergency".
Some of the poems in this collection went over my head, but the language and turns of phrases were stunning enough that I didn't really mind. Especially loved "Mayakovsky" and the titular "Meditations in an Emergency".