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Second Avenue

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description Second Avenue Overview

Second Avenue is a 1960 poetry collection by American poet Frank O'Hara, featuring its titular long poem. Published by Totem Press, the book is a quintessential artifact of the New York School avant-garde, heavily influenced by O'Hara's immersion in the mid-century Manhattan art scene and abstract expressionism. The long poem utilizes a surreal, associative technique, blending high culture with urban street imagery and rapid shifts in tone. The original publication famously featured cover art by O'Hara's close friend and frequent collaborator, the painter Larry Rivers.

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When was Frank O'Hara's poetry collection Second Avenue published?

"Second Avenue" was published as a poetry collection in 1960. It was released by Totem Press, which was founded by O'Hara's close friend and fellow poet, LeRoi Jones (later known as Amiri Baraka).

What literary movement is associated with the book Second Avenue?

The collection is a quintessential artifact of the New York School avant-garde. Frank O'Hara's work in this book is heavily influenced by his immersion in the mid-century Manhattan art scene, particularly Abstract Expressionist painting.

Is Second Avenue a long poem?

Yes, the collection features its titular long poem, "Second Avenue," which is one of O'Hara's most ambitious works. The poem is known for its fragmented, surreal imagery and rapid shifts in tone.

Who published the original Second Avenue by Frank O'Hara?

The original publication was handled by Totem Press, an independent publisher crucial to the Beat and New York School movements. This press was instrumental in making O'Hara's experimental poetry available to a wider audience.

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