Ave Maria

Mothers of America
...............................let your kids go to the movies
get them out of the house so they won't know what you're up to
it's true that fresh air is good for the body
...............................................................but what about the soul
that grows in darkness, embossed by silvery images
and when you grow old as grow old you must
................................................................they won't hate you
they won't criticize you they won't know
...............................................................they'll be in some glamorous
country they first saw on a Saturday afternoon or playing hookey

they may even be grateful to you
..................................................for their first sexual experience
which only cost you a quarter
..................................................and didn't upset the peaceful home
they will know where candy bars come from
...................................................and gratuitous bags of popcorn
as gratuitous as leaving the movie before it's over
with a pleasant stranger whose apartment is in the
....................................................Heaven on Earth Bldg
near the Williamsburg Bridge
....................................................oh mothers you will have made the little tykes
so happy because if nobody does pick them up in the movies
they won't know the difference
....................................................and if somebody does it'll be sheer gravy
and they'll have been truly entertained either way
instead of hanging around the yard
............................................or up in their room
.........................................................................hating you
prematurely since you won't have done anything horribly mean yet
except keeping them from life's darker joys
.............................................it's unforgivable the latter
so don't blame me if you won't take this advice
..............................................and the family breaks up
and your children grow old and blind in front of a TV set
.......................................................................................seeing
movies you wouldn't let them see when they were young

1960

Frank O'Hara, Vinte e Cinco Poemas à Hora do Almoço, José Alberto Oliveira (trad.), Assírio & Alvim, 1995. 

Tradução aqui.