Poem (Lana Turner Has Collapsed)

This Gawker headline, about a certain someone who has recently departed this mortal coil, has caused one of my favorite Frank O’Hara poems to knock around my brain since late yesterday. I thought I’d share it with you because it’s good, and funny and classic FO’H. You can also listen to an audio clip of the man himself reading it, if you please.

Poem

Lana Turner has collapsed!
I was trotting along and suddenly
it started raining and snowing
and you said it was hailing
but hailing hits you on the head
hard so it was really snowing and
raining and I was in such a hurry
to meet you but the traffic
was acting exactly like the sky
and suddenly I see a headline
LANA TURNER HAS COLLAPSED!
there is no snow in Hollywood
there is no rain in California
I have been to lots of parties
and acted perfectly disgraceful
but I never actually collapsed
oh Lana Turner we love you get up

- Frank O’Hara (1964)