'Today' by Frank O'Hara
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Oh! Kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!
You really are beautiful! Pearls,
harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! all
the stuff they've always talked about
still makes a poem a surprise!
Submitted by Elizabeth Curry
Editor 1 Interpretation
Today by Frank O'Hara: A Celebration of Life and the City
As I read Frank O'Hara's poem "Today" for the first time, I couldn't help but feel a rush of energy and enthusiasm take over me. The poem is a celebration of life and the city, a tribute to the small joys and pleasures that make our everyday existence so meaningful. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes and techniques used by O'Hara in "Today" and how they contribute to the overall effect of the poem.
The Poem: An Overview
"Today" is a free-verse poem written by Frank O'Hara in 1954. It is a part of his collection "Lunch Poems," which was published in 1964. The poem is divided into three stanzas, with each stanza consisting of six lines. The poem is written in a conversational tone, with a playful and witty use of language.
Theme 1: The City
One of the most prominent themes of "Today" is the city. O'Hara was a poet who loved the city and its bustling energy, and this is reflected in his work. In "Today," he celebrates the city and all its vibrant and chaotic qualities. He talks about the "dirty" streets, the "smelly" subways, and the "noisy" cars, all of which are part and parcel of the city experience.
But O'Hara doesn't just stop at describing the city. He also uses it as a metaphor for life itself. The city, with all its ups and downs, is a microcosm of life, with its joys and sorrows, its triumphs and disappointments. By celebrating the city, O'Hara is also celebrating life in all its complexities.
Theme 2: The Everyday
Another theme that runs through "Today" is the celebration of the everyday. O'Hara takes pleasure in the small things that we often take for granted. He talks about "eating a plum" and "drinking coffee," both of which are mundane activities that we do every day. But for O'Hara, these activities are not just about sustenance. They are moments of pleasure and enjoyment, moments that make life worth living.
O'Hara's celebration of the everyday is also linked to his celebration of the city. The city is full of these small moments of pleasure, whether it's watching people on the street or listening to the sounds of the city. By celebrating the everyday, O'Hara is celebrating the city and all its nuances.
Theme 3: Time
Time is a central theme in "Today." O'Hara is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of time and how quickly life can pass us by. He talks about "time collapsing like an accordion," a metaphor for how time seems to speed up and slow down depending on our perspective.
But O'Hara is not lamenting the passing of time. Instead, he is celebrating it. He knows that time is precious and that we should make the most of every moment. This is reflected in his celebration of the everyday, as well as his celebration of the city. By taking pleasure in the small moments of life, we can make time slow down and savor every moment.
Technique 1: Free Verse
O'Hara's use of free verse is one of the defining features of "Today." Free verse is poetry that does not follow a specific meter or rhyme scheme. Instead, it is based on natural speech patterns and rhythms.
O'Hara's use of free verse gives "Today" a conversational tone that makes it feel as if he is talking directly to the reader. It also allows him to be more playful and experimental with language, creating a sense of spontaneity and improvisation.
Technique 2: Imagery
O'Hara's use of imagery is another defining feature of "Today." He uses vivid and evocative descriptions to bring the city to life, from the "dirty old sneakers" on the sidewalk to the "flickering neon" signs in Times Square.
But O'Hara's imagery is not just descriptive. It is also symbolic. The "dirty old sneakers" represent the grit and grime of the city, while the "flickering neon" signs represent the vibrancy and excitement of the city. By using imagery in this way, O'Hara is able to convey multiple layers of meaning in his poetry.
Technique 3: Enjambment
Enjambment is a poetic technique where a sentence or phrase runs over into the next line without punctuation. O'Hara uses enjambment extensively in "Today," creating a sense of momentum and fluidity in the poem.
Enjambment also allows O'Hara to connect different images and ideas together, creating a sense of unity and coherence in the poem. For example, in the first stanza, O'Hara jumps from the image of the "dirty old sneakers" to the image of the "smokey caboose" without a break. This creates a sense of connection between the two images, as if they are part of the same world.
Interpretation: A Celebration of Life and the City
"Today" is a celebration of life and the city. O'Hara takes pleasure in the small things that make life worth living, from eating a plum to listening to the sounds of the city. He celebrates the city and its vibrant energy, while also acknowledging its complexities and contradictions.
O'Hara's use of free verse, imagery, and enjambment creates a sense of spontaneity and fluidity in the poem, mirroring the energy and chaos of the city. His celebration of the everyday and his awareness of the fleeting nature of time give the poem a sense of urgency and importance.
In the end, "Today" is more than just a poem. It is a call to embrace life and all its complexities, to take pleasure in the small moments of joy, and to savor every moment before it slips away.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Today by Frank O'Hara: A Celebration of Life and the Present Moment
Frank O'Hara's poem "Today" is a celebration of life and the present moment. It is a poem that captures the essence of living in the moment and cherishing every second of it. The poem is a reflection of O'Hara's philosophy of life, which is to live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment of it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
Themes
The poem "Today" is a celebration of life and the present moment. It is a reminder that life is short and we should cherish every moment of it. The poem is filled with images of everyday life, such as "the sun and the dogs and the harmonica," which remind us of the beauty of the world around us. O'Hara encourages us to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest, as he says, "Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!" The poem is a celebration of the simple pleasures of life, such as "the smell of coffee and the radio news."
Structure
The poem "Today" is a free verse poem with no set rhyme or meter. It is divided into three stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza focuses on the beauty of the world around us, the second stanza on the importance of living in the moment, and the third stanza on the inevitability of death. The poem is written in a conversational tone, as if O'Hara is speaking directly to the reader.
Literary Devices
O'Hara uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message in the poem "Today." One of the most prominent devices is imagery. He uses vivid images to paint a picture of the world around us, such as "the sun and the dogs and the harmonica." The use of imagery helps to create a sense of immediacy and makes the poem more relatable to the reader.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. O'Hara repeats the phrase "today" throughout the poem, emphasizing the importance of living in the present moment. He also repeats the phrase "oh!" several times, which adds a sense of excitement and enthusiasm to the poem.
O'Hara also uses alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality to the poem. For example, in the line "the sun is a yellow disc," the repetition of the "s" sound creates a sense of rhythm and musicality.
Analysis
The poem "Today" is a celebration of life and the present moment. O'Hara encourages us to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest. He reminds us that life is short and we should cherish every moment of it. The poem is filled with images of everyday life, such as "the sun and the dogs and the harmonica," which remind us of the beauty of the world around us.
The first stanza of the poem focuses on the beauty of the world around us. O'Hara uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the world, such as "the sun is a yellow disc," and "the dogs are barking and the children are playing." The use of imagery helps to create a sense of immediacy and makes the poem more relatable to the reader.
The second stanza of the poem focuses on the importance of living in the moment. O'Hara encourages us to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest, as he says, "Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!" The repetition of the phrase "today" emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and not worrying about the past or the future.
The third stanza of the poem focuses on the inevitability of death. O'Hara reminds us that life is short and we should cherish every moment of it, as he says, "I wanted to be sure to reach you; / though my ship was on the way it got caught / in some moorings." The use of the metaphor of the ship getting caught in moorings represents the inevitability of death and the importance of living life to the fullest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Today" by Frank O'Hara is a celebration of life and the present moment. The poem is a reminder that life is short and we should cherish every moment of it. O'Hara encourages us to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest, as he says, "Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas!" The poem is filled with images of everyday life, such as "the sun and the dogs and the harmonica," which remind us of the beauty of the world around us. The use of literary devices such as imagery, repetition, alliteration, and assonance help to create a sense of immediacy and make the poem more relatable to the reader. Overall, "Today" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that reminds us to live life to the fullest and cherish every moment of it.
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