Why Frank O’Hara is Perfect For Introducing Poetry to Tweens
When I taught poetry, I always arrived with pencils, pieces of paper, and a printed out poem by Frank O’Hara. If my students, middle schoolers forced to cram into libraries and over-filled classrooms, had heard of any poets before, O’Hara
In a middle school classroom, Frank O’Hara’s poetry brought a new perspective to the students. Unfamiliar with poets before, they found O’Hara’s short, exuberant verses refreshing and relatable. His work, devoid of the traditional poetic structure, made poetry feel immediate and engaging. O’Hara’s manifesto, penned in a single hour, emphasized the spontaneous creation of poetry, as if a phone call could suffice.
This approach contrasted sharply with the conventional, carefully composed poetry they had encountered. O’Hara’s poems, like "The Day Lady Died" and "A Step Away From Them," offered an accessible entry point into the world of poetry. Inspired by his casual profundity, the students learned to notice colors, sounds, and people around them, transforming the mundane into something poetic.
O’Hara’s influence was profound, inspiring poets like Ron Padgett and Alice Notley to create work in his distinctive style.
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