New York City is booming in life. This same pulse was felt and written in the 1950’s during Frank O’ Hara’s lunch breaks resulting in one of his books Lunch Poems. I have enjoyed reading my City Lights publication of Lunch Poems over and over again and here is one of my favorites:
Song
Is it dirty
does it look dirty
that’s what you think of in the city
does it just seem dirty
that’s what you think of in the city
you don’t refuse to breathe do you
someone comes along with a very bad character
he seems attractive. is he really. yes. very
he’s attractive as his character is bad. is it. yes
that’s what you think of in the city
run your finger along your no-moss mind
that’s not a thought that’s soot
and you take a lot of dirt off someone
is the character less bad. no. it improves constantly
you don’t refuse to breathe do you
