For this reading log I decided to do a poem from week eleven titled, “The day Lady died”, by Frank O’Hara. He begins the poem, like many of his others, as if he was telling a story. He mentions the setting, without going into too much detail, as he goes about his regular routine day. He makes indications of time as if reading a schedule. All seems fine and calm till towards the end of the poem. As he asks for a carton of Gauloises, Picayunes, and a New York post, at the Ziegfeld Theatre, O’Hara’s attention and train of thought is immediately robbed. Not much information is given, only that the paper had “her face on it”. The last stanza shows the impact seeing this face had on O’Hara. He begins to sweat and is thinking of leaning, which indicated his knees are week and is in shock. We can assume by the title that this “lady” was Billie Holiday, and that news of her death was what was on that paper that day that turned O’Hara’s day completely upside down.
I really enjoyed this reading and how the mood of it changed almost suddenly. The only question I had was who this “lady” was and why he titled it this way. However, after reading it and finding out the identity of lady, the poem and title began making more sense. I like how he shows that unexpected news can mess up and ruin even the most planned of days. I believe the author accomplished what he was aiming for. He led the reader on with a casual routine day in his perspective, and surprised them in the end with the news and its Impact. I believe this poem is relatable, because we have all received news that has shattered a day that began like any other.
