Meditations in an Emergency

by Frank O'Hara

Book Overview

Collected poems from one of the Twentieth Century's most influential voices.

Frank O'Hara was one of the great poets of the twentieth century and, along with such widely acclaimed writers as Denise Levertov, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Creeley, and Gary Snyder, a crucial contributor to what Donald Allen termed the New American Poetry, "which, by its vitality alone, became the dominant force in the American poetic tradition."

Frank O'Hara...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802134521
• ISBN13: 9780802134523
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 52 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

very good conditon - like new, very pleased.

This is a hard book to locate, and was so glad to have it offered here. I am very satisfied with the book, it is in excellent shape. thanks!!!!

So Mad Men

If you wondered what Don Draper was reading and why he got that far away look in his eye then your curiosity is much like mine. I had to know. Meditations In An Emergency is that book. Frank O'Hara was the voice that spoke to the madness, the chaos, and the contradictions in the cultural transition between 50's and 60's America. He was one of the best poets of the twentieth century and along with writers like Denise Levertov, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Creeley, and Gary Snyder, a crucial contributor to what Donald Allen termed the New American Poetry. O'Hara's poetry is vital, raw, gritty, and extremely moving. And Don Draper is thinking: Now I am quietly waiting for the castastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again, and interesting, and modern. The country is grey and brown and white in trees, snows and skies of laughter always diminishing, less funny not just darker, not just grey. It may be the coldest day of the year, what does he think of that? I mean, what do I? And if I do, perhaps I am myself again.

"Now I am quietly waiting for the catastrophe of my personality to seem beautiful again and interest

The country is gray and brown and white and trees. Snows and skies of laughter always diminishing. Less funny, not just darker, not just gray. It may be the coldest day of the year. What does he think of that...I mean, what do I? And if I do...perhaps I am myself again." The above was quoted from the voice over narration at the end of the second season premiere of "Mad Men" on AMC. I had never heard of Frank O'hara or "Meditations in an Emergency" before, but the words Mr O'Hara created have filled me with wonder and awe. When it becomes available again I intend to purchase this book in the hope that there may be even more words that will have a similar effect contained within it.