Dorothy Parker

[celticdragonfly]

I was discussing with Karl last night how very fond I am of the poetry of Dorothy Parker, and he suggested I ought to write about it. We were on our way home from our date, and I can't remember just how I got started on describing her work. One of the things I am fond of in her work is the invariable kicker - that her poetry will be flowing in what seems one direction, and as you reach the end there's a kick back in a different direction. That twist and kick is so characteristic of her work and something I like very much.

This had come to mind recently when I was mentioning her work in an IM chat with someone else, and lazy creature that I am, rather than getting up and going into our library to find the book I have of her poetry and typing in some piquant bits to share, I had googled the poem I wanted, pulled up various pages, and copied and pasted. Some of these pages had several of her poems, and during pauses in the IM conversation I was idly reading through various examples. It had been quite a while since I'd read her work, so I had forgotten some of the details. I started reading through "Symptom Recital", with it only partially scrolled up the page. I was reading it, nodding to myself, agreeing, oh yes, yes I know that feeling, uh-huh, yes, me too. Then I scrolled the page down farther and hit the kicker. Ooh, ow. Yeah, I'd forgotten that one.

I enjoy her rhythm and scansion - something I tend to take for granted when it's done well and only notice in poetry when it's done badly, as was recently brought to my attention indirectly. I like her wit and attitude, her mockery, of herself more than anything. I like how quick her wit was - not just in the poetry, but some of the marvelously cutting things she's quoted as having said. I greedily read the poems in which she expresses biting wit that I know I couldn't get away with in this day and age.

I told Karl I do have to be a bit careful in reading her, as she is so very cynical and it does end up being rather catching. But I talked about how her cynicism is surface level, not all that it seems. I feel that she was cynical for the same reason that I'm pessimistic. I'm pessimistic because inside I have an utter wild optimist just screaming to be let out to run amuck. That inner optimist would like to get me in as much trouble as possible. (Why yes, Parker's poem "A Portrait of the Artist" is one of my very favorites.) Reading her poetry leaves me with the feeling that she was cynical in an attempt to defend herself from tendencies toward sentimentality and romanticism that she found to be dangerous.

So, are any of you also fond of Dorothy Parker's poetry? Anyone like to share some of their favorites?

Comments

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

I don't know about you, but I am the Queen Of Rumania!

I love her stuff. But I have to take it in small doses, as I tend toward depression anyway. And the story of her life is heartbreaking. But yes, I love love love her. I think my fav poem of her is the one about suicide, I don't know what it's called, but the final line is "You might as well live."

And I love the phone story. Isn't that hers, the one where she keeps waiting for the guy to call? And then "You were perfectly fine", that awesome story about the morning after, where one person reassures the other that they didn't make a complete ass of themselves at a party.

Ah, Dorothy! I've been to NYC many times, keep meaning to make it to the Algonquin, but never have. I should. RIP, Dorothy! And since I don't have a DP icon, I'm using my Nietzsche icon instead... they were kindred souls, I think.

[phoenixsinger.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. "Resume'". That one hit me pretty hard too, at a time when I needed it to hit hard. Still does.

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Me too! But this is a Gratuitous Icon Post.

Dorothy Parker story

[bkseiver.livejournal.com]

My favorite is told ABOUT her: sitting in the cathedral of St. John the Divine, I believe, and significantly diluted by alcohol, she beheld the procession with the bishop and the sensor: "Love your dress, darling, but your purse is on fire!".

[shadefell.livejournal.com]

I like her poetry a lot, but prefer her short stories.

One of my favorite poems of hers is:

Penelope


In the pathway of the sun,
In the footsteps of the breeze,
Where the world and sky are one,
He shall ride the silver seas,
He shall cut the glittering wave.
I shall sit at home, and rock;
Rise, to heed a neighbor's knock;
Brew my tea, and snip my thread;
Bleach the linen for my bed.
They will call him brave.

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

I like her poetry better than the prose, but the prose will definitely do in a pinch! My favorite is her review of Winnie the Pooh,(though I disagree with her opinion) "Tonstant Weader frowed up!."