I am not a painter, I am a poet.

Why? I think I would rather be

a painter, but I am not. Well,

. . .

I see Mike’s painting, called SARDINES.

Why I Am Not a Painter―Frank O’Hara (with nods to “Lucy Kent XIX”, Schuyler, Ashbery & Don Allen)

I am not a painter, I am a poet.

I do this I do that, I would rather be a jazzer

play Tord G, Colin V … while she whispered

along the keyboard and everyone stopped breathing

Why? I think I would rather be

Abstract Express’ist, Post-Painterly Abs’ist

intimate yeller at New York a.k.a. 10th St School

I suspect he is making a distinction/well who isn’t

a painter, but I am not. Well,

so French, & puzzling (never v. sanguine abt pub’ing)

so Camp Urbane, ah such personistic insouciance

you just go on your nerve (all the way fr. Yugen)

I see Mike’s painting, called SARDINES

habits of actual speech… the measure of

continuous attention… I love Reverdy

for saying yes, though I don’t believe it