PBS’s “Poetry in America” Focuses on Frank O’Hara’s Poem “Steps”

Each installment of the PBS series “Poetry in America,” hosted by scholar Elisa New, gathers a group — typically made up of writers, artists, musicians, politicians, actors, and other public figures — to read and discuss a poem in detail. The show, now in its fourth season, has a delightful new episode devoted to Frank O’Hara and his 1961 poem “Steps,” one of O’Hara’s signature “I do this, I do that” poems.

To recite and discuss “Steps,” New brings together four poets who are longtime fans of O’Hara (Todd Colby, Terrance Hayes, Eileen Myles, Robert Pinsky), the choreographer Mark Morris, and musicians Rachael Price and Vilra.

For me at least, “it’s wonderful / to get out of bed / and drink too much coffee” and spend 25 minutes watching these smart and interesting people read and talk about “Steps,” which is both one of O’Hara’s most charming love poems and an exuberant ode to New York in all its dynamic bustle, glory, and absurdity.

You can check out the episode here:

Steps

And other episodes in the series here:

TV Series