Meditations in an emergency

by Frank O'Hara

Blurb

Meditations in an Emergency is a book of poetry by American poet Frank O'Hara first published by Grove Press in 1957. Its title poem was first printed in the November 1954 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse.
The name of the book is purported to derive from English poet John Donne's prose work Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, stemming from a joke between O'Hara and other members of the renowned New York School of poets. Critics have noted the influence of impressionism and abstract expressionism in the collection, with most of the poems detailing the theme of identity and everyday life in New York City.
The book is dedicated to painter Jane Freilicher.

First Published

1957

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