Studying Referentiality in Frank O'Hara's Poetry

1Mothers of America
2Mothers of America let your kids go to the movies!
3get them out of the house so they won't know what you're up to
4it's true that fresh air is good for the body
5 it's true that fresh air is good for the body but what about the soul
6that grows in darkness, embossed by silvery images
7and when you grow old as grow old you must
8and when you grow old as grow old you must they won't hate you
9they won't criticize you they won't know
10 they won't criticize you they won't know they'll be in some glamorous country
11they first saw on a Saturday afternoon or playing hookey
12they may even be grateful to you
13they may even be grateful to you for their first sexual experience
14which only cost you a quarter
15 which only cost you a quarter and didn't upset the peaceful home
16they will know where candy bars come from
17they will know where candy bars come from and gratuitous bags of popcorn
18as gratuitous as leaving the movie before it's over
19with a pleasant stranger whose apartment is in the Heaven on Earth Bldg
20 near the Williamsburg Bridge
21near the Williamsburg Bridge oh mothers you will have made the little tykes
22so happy because if nobody does pick them up in the movies
23they won't know the difference
24they won't know the difference and if somebody does it'll be sheer gravy
25 and they'll have been truly entertained either way
26instead of hanging around the yard
27instead of hanging around the yard or up in their room
28instead of hanging around the yard or up in their room hating you
29prematurely since you won't have done anything horribly mean yet
30 except keeping them from the darker joys
31except keeping them from the darker joys it's unforgivable the latter
32so don't blame me if you won't take this advice
33so don't blame me if you won't take this advice and the family breaks up
34and your children grow old and blind in front of a TV set
35 and your children grow old and blind in front of a TV set seeing
36movies you wouldn't let them see when they were young