Frank O'Hara

Frank O'Hara was born in 1926. He studied English literature and then worked as a curator at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. He was also an art criric. O'Hara was very liked and sociable, had a lot of friends, particularly from artistic scene. He was the leader of New York School of poets. 

O'Hara's poems are autiobiographical, he uses also his sense of observation to describe the world around. He was inspired by music, dance and painting. O'Hara died at the age of 40. 

Animals

Have you forgotten what we were like then
when we were still first rate
and the day came fat with an apple in its mouth

it's no use worrying about Time
but we did have a few tricks up our sleeves
and turned some sharp corners

the whole pasture looked like our meal
we didn't need speedometers
we could manage cocktails out of ice and water

I wouldn't want to be faster
or greener than now if you were with me O you
were the best of all my days

In this poem Frank O'Hara gets back in time, evokes his memories. It's a developed apostrophe to someone, probably his lover, in which he recollects their common past. It is described as a period in which they were young, lived life to the fullest (which doesn't mean that without troubles). They had a lot of opportunities to benefit by. The last strophe, in juxtaposition to the first three strophes, is very strong. It is an expression of longing, absence and missing love. 

Based on: Wikipedia note and link.