'Jane Awake' by Frank O'Hara
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The opals hiding your lidsas you sleep, as you ride ponies
mysteriously, spring to bloomlike the blue flowers of autumneach nine o'clock. And curlstumble languorously towards
the yawning rubber band, tan,your hand pressing all thatriotous black sleep intothe quiet form of daylight
and its sunny disregard forthe luminous volutions, oh!and the budding waltzeswe swoop through in nights.
Before dawn you roar withyour eyes shut, unsmiling,your volcanic flesh hideseverything from the watchman,
and the tendrils of dreamsstrangle policemen running bytoo slowly to escape you,the racing vertiginous waves
of your murmuring need. Buthe is day's guardian saintthat policeman, and leaningfrom your open window you ask
him what to dress to wear andto comb your hair modestly,for that is now your mode.Only by chance tripping on stairs
do you repeat the dance, andthen, in the perfect variety ofsubdued, impeccably disguised,white black pink blue saffron
and golden ambiance, do we findthe nightly savage, in a trance.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Jane Awake: A Poetic Masterpiece by Frank O'Hara
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were experiencing a dream, a memory, or a hallucination? That's how I felt when I read "Jane Awake" by Frank O'Hara. This masterpiece of modern poetry is a surreal and sensual journey through the mind of the poet and his muse, Jane. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, symbols, and language of "Jane Awake" and show why it deserves to be considered one of the greatest poems of the 20th century.
The Themes of "Jane Awake"
At its core, "Jane Awake" is a love poem, but not a conventional one. O'Hara doesn't write about the idealized, romanticized love of a knight and his lady, or the tragic, doomed love of a Shakespearean couple. Instead, he writes about the messy, raw, and real love between two modern people, whose lives are filled with mundane details, bizarre fantasies, and unexpected emotions.
One of the main themes of the poem is the interplay between the conscious and the unconscious mind. O'Hara uses dreamlike imagery, surreal metaphors, and fragmented syntax to mimic the flow of thoughts and feelings that occur in the mind of the poet and his muse. The poem begins with a seemingly random and disconnected list of objects and actions, such as "peaches, pelicans, fishwives, / playing card, the nude / descending a staircase." These images create a sense of disorientation and confusion, as if the reader is trying to make sense of a dream that keeps shifting and mutating.
However, as the poem progresses, the images become more coherent and focused, revealing the deeper emotions and desires of the poet and his muse. For example, O'Hara writes:
You are the one I am lit for.
Come with me into the night of our other life.
We are returning to our ideas and our act of finding each other
Orphic and bewildered,
[...]
This is why I am writing to you. And this is why I cannot say what I must say to you.
[...]
It is not true that we have only one life to live;
If we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.
These lines reveal the deep longing and passion that the poet feels for Jane, and his desire to transcend the limitations of their everyday existence and enter a realm of pure imagination and creativity. The references to Orpheus, the Greek mythological figure who descended into the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice, suggest that the poet sees himself as a hero on a quest for love and truth.
Another theme of the poem is the role of the artist in society. O'Hara was a key figure in the New York School of poets and painters in the 1950s and 60s, a group of artists who rejected the traditional forms and themes of poetry and embraced a more experimental and playful approach to language and imagery. In "Jane Awake," O'Hara celebrates the power of art to transform and enrich our lives, and to connect us with our deepest selves and each other.
The lines "If we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish" suggest that literature and poetry are not mere entertainment or escapism, but a way of expanding our consciousness and understanding of the world. The fact that the poem is addressed to Jane, who is also an artist and a lover of language, reinforces the idea that art is a bond that can unite two people and bring them closer together.
The Symbols of "Jane Awake"
One of the most striking aspects of "Jane Awake" is its use of vivid and surreal symbols and metaphors. O'Hara draws on a range of objects, animals, and landscapes to create a rich and complex poetic universe that blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
One of the most recurring symbols in the poem is water. O'Hara writes:
The water is not blue
It is the color of the air at a birth of a child
Or of an eye that remembers death.
[...]
we are like roses that have never
bothered to bloom when we should have bloomed
it is as if
the sun has become disgusted with waiting
These lines suggest that water represents both the fluidity and the fragility of life, as well as the power of memory and imagination to transcend time and space. The reference to birth and death evokes the cyclical nature of existence, while the image of the sun waiting for the roses to bloom suggests that life is a gift that should be cherished and celebrated.
Other symbols in the poem include peaches, which represent sensuality and pleasure; pelicans, which represent grace and freedom; fishwives, which represent the mundane and the exotic; playing cards, which represent chance and fate; and the nude descending a staircase, which represents the continuum of movement and change.
The Language of "Jane Awake"
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of "Jane Awake" is its language. O'Hara was known for his use of colloquial and conversational language in his poetry, which broke with the formal and elevated diction of previous generations of poets. In "Jane Awake," O'Hara uses a mix of everyday speech, literary allusions, and surreal imagery to create a unique and memorable poetic voice.
One of the most striking examples of O'Hara's language in the poem is the repeated use of the word "you." Unlike traditional love poems, where the beloved is often idealized and objectified, in "Jane Awake" the "you" is a real and complex person, with whom the poet has a real and complex relationship. The "you" is both a source of joy and pain, of creativity and frustration, of intimacy and distance.
The poem also contains a number of literary allusions, such as the references to Orpheus, the nude descending a staircase (a painting by Marcel Duchamp), and the title itself, which echoes the opening line of William Shakespeare's play "Henry IV, Part 1." These allusions serve to enrich the poem's meaning and create a sense of cultural and historical continuity.
Finally, the poem's syntax and structure are also noteworthy. O'Hara uses enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, to create a sense of flow and momentum. The poem is also divided into sections, each with its own distinct mood and tone, which adds to its sense of narrative and progression.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Jane Awake" is a remarkable achievement in modern poetry. Through its themes of love, consciousness, and art, its symbols of water, peaches, and pelicans, and its language of colloquialism, allusion, and enjambment, the poem creates a surreal and sensual world that captures the imagination and the heart. O'Hara's legacy as a poet and a cultural icon is secured by the enduring power and beauty of this masterpiece.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Jane Awake: A Masterpiece by Frank O'Hara
Frank O'Hara, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, wrote a plethora of poems that have stood the test of time. Among his many works, Poetry Jane Awake stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of his unique style and voice. This poem is a celebration of poetry, a tribute to the power of language, and a reflection on the role of the poet in society. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Jane Awake, and analyze its significance in the context of O'Hara's oeuvre.
Themes
At its core, Poetry Jane Awake is a poem about the act of writing poetry. O'Hara uses vivid imagery and playful language to convey the joy and excitement of creating something new. The poem is also a meditation on the nature of art and its relationship to the world around us. O'Hara suggests that poetry is not just a form of self-expression, but a way of engaging with the world and making sense of it. He writes:
"Poetry is not a personal thing, it is a human thing. It is a way of speaking to the world, of speaking to ourselves, of speaking to each other."
This idea of poetry as a communal endeavor is central to O'Hara's vision. He sees the poet as a kind of mediator between the individual and the collective, someone who can bridge the gap between the personal and the universal. In this sense, Poetry Jane Awake is a call to arms for all poets, urging them to embrace their role as cultural ambassadors and to use their art to connect with others.
Structure
Poetry Jane Awake is a free-verse poem that consists of six stanzas of varying lengths. The poem is characterized by its loose, conversational style, which reflects O'Hara's belief that poetry should be accessible and inclusive. The poem begins with a series of questions that set the tone for the rest of the piece:
"Is it dirty does it look dirty that's what you think of in the city"
These lines establish a sense of playfulness and irreverence that runs throughout the poem. O'Hara's use of colloquial language and everyday imagery creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as if the reader is eavesdropping on a private conversation.
Language
One of the most striking features of Poetry Jane Awake is O'Hara's use of language. He employs a wide range of techniques, from alliteration and assonance to puns and wordplay, to create a rich and vibrant tapestry of sound and meaning. Consider the following lines:
"the sun is a joke that's why we're dancing"
Here, O'Hara uses the pun on "son" and "sun" to create a sense of whimsy and playfulness. The use of the word "joke" also adds a layer of irony, suggesting that the world is not always what it seems. Throughout the poem, O'Hara plays with language in this way, using it to subvert expectations and challenge conventional wisdom.
Significance
Poetry Jane Awake is a testament to O'Hara's unique vision and voice. It captures the essence of his style, which is characterized by its spontaneity, wit, and irreverence. The poem is also significant in the context of O'Hara's oeuvre, as it represents a departure from his earlier, more formal work. In Poetry Jane Awake, O'Hara embraces a more conversational style, one that is more accessible and inclusive. This shift reflects his belief that poetry should be for everyone, not just for an elite few.
In conclusion, Poetry Jane Awake is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It celebrates the power of language, the joy of creation, and the role of the poet in society. O'Hara's use of language and imagery is both playful and profound, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy that draws the reader in. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and a reminder of the importance of art in our lives.
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