'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, andheaded 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 wasthere 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 of Modern Poetry

By: [Your Name Here]

Frank O'Hara's "Call Me" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores themes of love, identity, and the beauty of everyday moments. Through its use of vivid imagery, vivid language, and playful structure, the poem captures the reader's attention from the very first line and holds it until the very end. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail, discussing its themes, imagery, language, and structure to uncover its meaning and significance.

Overview of the Poem

"Call Me" is a short poem consisting of only six lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and depth. It was first published in O'Hara's 1964 collection, "Love Poems." The poem's title suggests a desire for connection and intimacy, a theme that is central to the poem's message.

Themes

One of the primary themes of "Call Me" is the search for identity and connection. The poem begins with the line, "call me / any time." This opening suggests a desire for communication and a longing for human connection. The speaker wants to be called, to be reached out to, to be recognized as a person worthy of attention and affection. The poem's repetition of the phrase "call me" emphasizes this longing and suggests a deeper need for intimacy and recognition.

Another important theme of the poem is the beauty of everyday moments. The speaker asks to be called "when the moon is full / and the sun shines on the snow." This line suggests an appreciation for the beauty of nature and the transformative power of light. The speaker is drawn to moments of natural beauty and wants to share them with someone else, to connect over the experience of awe and wonder.

A third theme of the poem is the power of language to create meaning and connection. The speaker's repeated requests to be called suggest a desire for communication and the shared experience of language. The poem's use of vivid imagery and playful language also suggest the power of words to create meaning and emotional connections.

Imagery

"Call Me" is a poem rich in imagery. The poem's opening line, "call me," creates an image of the speaker waiting, perhaps by a phone, for someone to reach out to them. This image captures the longing for connection that is central to the poem's message.

The poem's use of natural imagery is also significant. The line "when the moon is full / and the sun shines on the snow" creates a vivid image of a winter landscape, with the moon and sun both casting their light on the snow. This image captures the beauty of a winter night, while also suggesting a sense of emotional openness and vulnerability.

The poem's final line, "my love is," is also rich in imagery. The use of the word "love" suggests a deep emotional connection, while the lack of a direct object creates a sense of openness and possibility. The line invites the reader to imagine what the speaker's love might be, to create their own image of the speaker's emotional state.

Language

O'Hara's use of language in "Call Me" is playful and vivid. The poem is written in free verse, with no set meter or rhyme scheme. This structure allows O'Hara to experiment with language, creating a sense of spontaneity and playfulness.

The poem's repetition of the phrase "call me" is particularly effective. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and longing, while also emphasizing the poem's theme of connection and communication.

The poem's use of natural imagery is also significant. The phrase "when the moon is full / and the sun shines on the snow" creates a sense of wonder and beauty, while also suggesting a sense of emotional openness and vulnerability.

Structure

"Call Me" is a short poem consisting of only six lines. Despite its brevity, the poem's structure is significant. The repetition of the phrase "call me" creates a sense of urgency and longing, while also emphasizing the poem's theme of connection and communication.

The poem's use of natural imagery is also significant. The phrase "when the moon is full / and the sun shines on the snow" creates a sense of wonder and beauty, while also suggesting a sense of emotional openness and vulnerability.

The poem's final line, "my love is," is also significant. This line creates a sense of openness and possibility, inviting the reader to imagine what the speaker's love might be.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Frank O'Hara's "Call Me" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores themes of love, identity, and the beauty of everyday moments. Through its use of vivid imagery, playful language, and repetitive structure, the poem captures the reader's attention and invites them to contemplate the power of language and human connection. "Call Me" is a poem that resonates deeply, inviting readers to explore their own desires for intimacy and communication, and to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Call Me: A Poem of Love and Longing

Frank O'Hara's "Call Me" is a poem that captures the essence of love and longing in a way that is both raw and beautiful. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the way it can consume us, leaving us vulnerable and exposed. In this analysis, we will explore the themes of love, desire, and vulnerability in "Call Me" and how they are expressed through O'Hara's use of language and imagery.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the object of their affection, saying "Call me / Ishmael." This opening line is a reference to the famous opening line of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, which reads "Call me Ishmael." By invoking this literary reference, O'Hara is setting the tone for the poem and establishing a sense of longing and desire. The speaker is asking to be called by a name that is not their own, suggesting a desire to be someone else, to escape their current reality and be with the person they love.

The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's longing for the person they love. They say "I have gone / out, a possessed witch, / haunting the black air, / braver at night." These lines are filled with imagery that suggests a sense of desperation and longing. The speaker is like a witch, possessed by their love, and they are wandering through the night, searching for the person they desire. The use of the word "braver" suggests that the speaker is willing to take risks to be with the person they love, even if it means venturing out into the darkness.

The poem then takes a more sensual turn, with the speaker describing their desire for physical intimacy with the person they love. They say "Dreaming evil, / I have done my hitch / over the plain houses, / light by light: / lonely thing, / twelve-fingered, out of mind." These lines are filled with sexual imagery, with the speaker describing themselves as "dreaming evil" and "lonely." The use of the phrase "twelve-fingered" suggests a sense of otherness, as if the speaker is not quite human, but something more. This otherness is further emphasized by the phrase "out of mind," which suggests that the speaker is not in control of their desires, but rather they are being consumed by them.

The poem then takes a more melancholic turn, with the speaker acknowledging the pain and sadness that comes with longing for someone who is not there. They say "A woman like that is not a woman, / quite. / I have been her kind." These lines suggest that the person the speaker loves is not like other women, that they are somehow different and special. The use of the phrase "I have been her kind" suggests that the speaker has experienced this kind of longing before, that they have loved someone who was not quite like other people.

The poem then ends with the speaker once again asking to be called by a name that is not their own. They say "I am desperate for you, / call me / any ole name." This final line is a plea for the person the speaker loves to acknowledge them, to call them by any name, to show that they are seen and heard. The use of the phrase "any ole name" suggests that the speaker is willing to be anyone, to do anything, to be with the person they love.

In conclusion, "Call Me" is a poem that captures the essence of love and longing in a way that is both raw and beautiful. The poem explores the themes of love, desire, and vulnerability through O'Hara's use of language and imagery. The speaker is consumed by their love for someone who is not there, and they are willing to do anything to be with them. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the way it can consume us, leaving us vulnerable and exposed.

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