Frank O’Hara’s ‘Having a Coke With You’ Is Like a Perfect First Date

"Having a Coke With You" is a poem by the American poet Frank O'Hara, written in 1959. The poem is known for its conversational tone and its exploration of the mundane and the extraordinary in everyday life. The poem describes the speaker's encounter with a woman in a park in New York City, as they both sit on a bench enjoying a Coke.

The poem begins with the line "I am sick of this part of the day," which sets a melancholic tone, but the speaker's mood quickly brightens as he spots the woman he knows from somewhere but can't quite place. He describes her as "so calm and pleasant / so suddenly important," suggesting that their encounter has unexpectedly elevated the ordinary moment.

The poem goes on to detail the various things they discuss as they sit together, from the mundane (the weather, their jobs) to the more profound (their dreams, their desires). The speaker expresses his admiration for the woman, describing her as "beautiful, intelligent, / making me want to be / even more extravagant / than I am and capable of anything," showing his appreciation for her in the moment.

The poem's title comes from the shared experience of having a Coke with the woman, which becomes a symbol of their connection in the poem. The poem ends with the lines "and I am thinking of you under the American flag," which suggests that the speaker's thoughts have turned to the woman even after their encounter has ended.

O'Hara's poem is notable for its use of free verse and its conversational style, which reflects the influence of the Beat Generation and the New York School of Poets. It is also notable for its exploration of the everyday and the ordinary, which was a departure from the more traditional themes of poetry at the time.

The poem has been praised for its ability to capture the essence of a moment in time and the way that seemingly insignificant experiences can have profound effects on our lives. It has been compared to a perfect first date because of the way it builds a connection between the speaker and the woman through shared experiences and conversation. The poem's charm lies in its ability to find beauty in the ordinary and to celebrate the fleeting nature of human connections.