The creative process
In the poem ‘’Why I am not a painter?’’ the major theme revolves around the creative process and the differences between a poet and a painter. The last stanza of the poem is used by the narrator to explain his creative process and to show how his poems come to life. The narrator starts from an idea and then it is expanded and changed. The length of the process can vary depending on the idea and the finished product may differ from the initial idea to the extent where it is something completely different from what the creator wanted it to be. The narrator presents this process as being a normal one, something that changes organically and naturally. The idea is refined and becomes clearer as time passes and so a piece of art remains a work in progress until the final moments when it becomes something complete. The poem also transmits the idea that a piece of art changes in time and that an initial idea may not necessarily remain alive until the end of the creative process.
Being homosexual
The author, Frank O’Hara was a known homosexual who had a lifelong partner. Taking into consideration the time when the poems were written, it is no wonder that the author chose to describe his experience of coming out as a homosexual to his readers. In the poem ‘’Homosexuality’’, this represents the major theme. He describes the act of coming out as an actor taking off his mask. This transmits the idea that those who were homosexuals and did not publicly admitted it, lived a life in which they were actors. The judging population is described as ‘’old cows’’, spreading their hate and making the men who took down their masks doubt themselves. Many suffered because of those harsh words and turned to ice, or became insensible and uncaring. Thus, being homosexual is presented as being something difficult, even impossible at times because of the way the rest of the society decided to treat them.
The modern world
Another theme found in many of the poems in the collection is represented by the narrator’s description of the modern society. In the poem ‘’Homosexuality’’, the people who live in society are all described as wearing masks. This transmits the idea that a person does not feel safe expressing who they are, fearing they will be judged by the rest. In ‘’Ave Maria’’, the narrator analyzes the relationship a mother has with her child and presents the way in which this relationship was affected by the modern world and by the technological advancements of the day. All this elements affected the human interaction to such an extent it became almost nonexistent.
