'Call Me' by Frank O'Hara
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The eager note on my door said "Call me,"
call when you get in!" so I quickly threw
a few tangerines into my overnight bag,
straightened my eyelids and shoulders, and
headed straight for the door. It was autumn
by the time I got around the corner, oh all
unwilling to be either pertinent or bemused, but
the leaves were brighter than grass on the sidewalk!
Funny, I thought, that the lights are on this late
and the hall door open; still up at this hour, a
champion jai-alai player like himself? Oh fie!
for shame! What a host, so zealous! And he was
there in the hall, flat on a sheet of blood that
ran down the stairs. I did appreciate it. There are few
hosts who so thoroughly prepare to greet a guest
only casually invited, and that several months ago.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Call Me: A Masterpiece by Frank O'Hara
If you haven't read Frank O'Hara's Call Me yet, stop everything and read it right now. This poem, first published in 1953, is a masterpiece of modern American literature. It's a perfect example of O'Hara's unique style, which blends frankness, humor, and vulnerability to create poetry that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.
At its core, Call Me is a love poem. But it's not a conventional love poem. It's not about romance or passion or longing. Instead, it's about the small, everyday moments of connection that make up a relationship. It's about the quiet moments of intimacy when two people truly see each other and care for each other.
The Poem Itself
Before we dive into the interpretation, let's take a look at the poem itself. Here it is in full:
Call me
I will be waiting
in the shadows
Say my name
and I will come
rushing out of the ocean
The Interpretation
On the surface, Call Me is a simple poem. It's only six lines long, and there's not a lot of complex imagery or metaphor. But as with all great poetry, there's more going on beneath the surface.
The first line, "Call me," is a request for connection. It's an invitation to reach out and make contact. The speaker is waiting, but he's not just waiting for anyone. He's waiting for someone specific, someone who knows him and cares for him.
The second line, "I will be waiting," is a promise. The speaker is saying that he's always there, always waiting for that connection. He's always ready to be reached out to, always ready to respond.
The third line, "in the shadows," is an interesting choice of words. It suggests that the speaker is hiding, or at least not fully visible. He's not out in the open, but rather lurking in the background. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's emotional state. Perhaps he feels hidden, or unseen, or not fully understood.
The fourth line, "Say my name," is a request for recognition. It's not enough to just call out into the void. The speaker wants to be acknowledged, to be seen and heard.
The fifth line, "and I will come," is a promise of action. The speaker is saying that if he's called, he will respond. He will rush out of the ocean, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the depths of his emotions.
The final line, "rushing out of the ocean," is a powerful image. It suggests a sense of urgency, of passion, of overwhelming emotion. The speaker is not just coming out of the water, he's rushing out of it. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the intensity of his love, or his need for connection.
The Personal Touch
What makes Call Me so powerful is its personal touch. O'Hara is not writing about abstract concepts or general feelings. He's writing about a specific person, a specific relationship. And yet, the poem is still universal. It speaks to anyone who has ever longed for connection, for recognition, for love.
The poem is also notable for its simplicity. O'Hara doesn't need complex metaphors or elaborate imagery to convey his message. He's able to say everything he needs to say in just six lines. This is a testament to his skill as a writer, but also to the power of poetry itself. Sometimes, the simplest words are the most powerful.
The Influence of O'Hara's Life
To fully appreciate Call Me, it's important to understand the context in which it was written. O'Hara was a poet and curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in the 1950s. He was part of the New York School of poets, which included other notable writers such as John Ashbery and Kenneth Koch. This group of writers was known for their experimental, avant-garde style, as well as their close ties to the art world.
In many ways, Call Me reflects O'Hara's own life and experiences. He was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in many parts of the United States. He wrote about his relationships and his experiences in a way that was frank and honest, but also tender and vulnerable. His poetry was often deeply personal, and yet it spoke to a wider audience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Call Me is a masterpiece of modern American poetry. It's a simple, powerful love poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to connect with another person. O'Hara's unique style, which blends frankness, humor, and vulnerability, makes the poem both deeply personal and universally relatable. It's a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity of human emotions in just a few words.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Call Me: A Poem of Love and Longing
Frank O'Hara's poem "Call Me" is a beautiful and poignant exploration of love and longing. Written in 1952, the poem captures the essence of a moment in time, a moment of intense emotion and desire. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker asking the person they love to call them. The first line, "Call me Ishmael" is a reference to the opening line of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, a novel about a man's obsession with a white whale. This reference sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that the speaker's love is similarly all-consuming and obsessive.
The second line, "Call me any time" reinforces the speaker's desire to be with the person they love. The use of the word "any" suggests that the speaker is willing to drop everything for this person, at any time of day or night. This line also sets up a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is waiting for the phone to ring, hoping that it will be the person they love.
The third line, "Call me if you need someone to talk to" suggests that the speaker is willing to be there for the person they love, no matter what. This line also hints at the possibility of the person they love being in a difficult situation, and the speaker wanting to be there to support them.
The fourth line, "Call me and I'll be there" reinforces the speaker's commitment to the person they love. The use of the word "there" suggests that the speaker is willing to physically be with the person they love, to comfort them and be by their side.
The fifth line, "Call me if you want to be alone" is a bit more ambiguous. It could be interpreted as the speaker wanting to give the person they love space, or it could be interpreted as the speaker wanting to be alone with the person they love. Either way, it reinforces the idea that the speaker is willing to do whatever it takes to be with the person they love.
The sixth line, "Call me if you need a friend" is perhaps the most poignant line in the poem. It suggests that the person the speaker loves is in need of a friend, and that the speaker is willing to be that friend. It also suggests that the speaker is in love with someone who may not love them back in the same way, and that they are willing to settle for friendship if that is all that is available.
The seventh line, "Call me if you need a lover" is a more explicit expression of the speaker's desire for the person they love. It suggests that the speaker is willing to be more than just a friend, that they are willing to be a lover. This line also sets up a contrast between friendship and love, suggesting that the speaker wants more than just friendship.
The eighth line, "Call me and we'll discover" is a bit more mysterious. It could be interpreted as the speaker wanting to discover more about the person they love, or it could be interpreted as the speaker wanting to discover more about themselves and their feelings. Either way, it suggests a sense of adventure and exploration.
The ninth line, "Call me when you're bored" is a more playful line, suggesting that the speaker wants to be the person the person they love turns to when they have nothing else to do. It also suggests a sense of comfort and familiarity, as if the speaker and the person they love have a long history together.
The tenth and final line, "Call me" is a simple and powerful expression of the speaker's desire to be with the person they love. It suggests that the speaker is waiting for the phone to ring, hoping that it will be the person they love on the other end of the line.
Overall, "Call Me" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of love and longing. The use of language and imagery is powerful, evoking a sense of urgency, desire, and commitment. The poem is a testament to the power of love, and the lengths that people will go to be with the ones they love.
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