THE FIRST POEM THAT SHALL BEGIN THE FIRST NOVEL

Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!
This is the first sentence I have ever written. It is the first poem that 
I have ever written. Mother, it is the sentence that shall launch my
novel. My first novel. My fervent wish. My novel, my poem, both.
Now we go! I am fifty-eight years old! I am afraid! The first novel,
the first sentence! The first poem I have ever written! Okay! Okay!

A Poem For Frank O'Hara

For I shall drink a warm Coke at noon
and trace lovingly
the cracked egg of the world.