Analysis Of Frank O Hara's Lunch Poems

In the book Lunch Poems, written by Frank O’Hara, there are several occasions and events mentioned, which seem to express and define Frank O’Hara’s outlook on life. Throughout this book, O’Hara goes back and forth it seems between his real life, reality and what he imagines within his thoughts and imagination, related to his surroundings and life experiences. As for one poem titled as “Steps”, a few topics are brought up in order to meet one outcome. In this poem, not only does O’Hara speak about New York, but also about romance and how others are living. As the poem begins, the city of New York is immediately brought up by O’Hara, followed by references of significant things located in New York. As stated in the poem, O’Hara says “How funny you are today New York like Ginger Rogers in Swingtime and St. Bridget’s steeple leaning a little to the left” (56). Both of these references being made are connected to New York in their own specific ways. As mentioned, Ginger Rogers was a …show more content…
I feel that throughout this poem, he closely relates things in New York to his everyday life and also mentions the differences of what he wants and what others are chasing, such as things dealing with wealth and money, while O’Hara wants love and the simpler things in life it seems. New York, situations dealing with romance, and what others are doing around him, are all also mentioned throughout the rest of this book throughout his poems he writes. However, most of his other poems have more of a negative aspect, while this one has more of a positive affect throughout it. I think that it is safe to say that Frank O’Hara’s main concern is that at the end of the day, all that really matters is love and the relationships we have with those we love, while the negative or even the positive is pushed behind us when the real things that matter come in to play in