‘Terribly Late’, or ‘Future in the Past’ in American Poetry

On an early autumn afternoon in 1954, Frank O’Hara ended his poem Music [Music] with the words:

‘(…) As they’re putting up the Christmas trees on Park Avenue
I shall see my daydreams walking by with dogs in blankets,
put to some use before all those coloured lights come on!
But no more fountains and no more rain,
and the stores stay open terribly late.’ [2 October 1954]

Nine years later, the war ended. The world gazed towards a bright future. Did it happen terribly late? As soon as possible? Does anyone still need dreams? Dreams, of course—we remain on the bright side of the force. 

‘Wir bilden einen lieben Reigen,
Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen,
Musik kommt aus dem Weißen Haus,
Und vor Paris steht Mickey Maus

We’re all living in Amerika,
Amerika ist wunderbar
We’re all living in Amerika,
Amerika, Amerika’     

Rammstein 

The Stars and Stripes remain the finest pattern for reality. A truly forever young ornament.