I adore Dorothy Parker. Actually, she reminds me a bit of Housman in some of his wryer moods (which I mean as high praise). But I suspect some of their similarity lies in both being strongly influenced by Heine.
Here is one of my favorite Parker verse:
FIGHTING WORDS
Say my love is easy had,
Say I'm bitten raw with pride,
Say I am too often sad--
Still behold me at your side.
Say I'm neither brave nor young,
Say I woo and coddle care,
Say the devil touched my tongue
Still you have my heart to wear.
But say my verses do not scan,
And I get me another man!
To which I reply, Amen!
As for Mac's comment, I think I understand his concern. And yet, and yet, many a SERIOUS poem is also a set up, in many ways, for a "punch line." (As Winters and others have complained about "Richard Corey," for example, but I can think of many another that might fall into that category.) But the difference between a poem and a joke, is that it can be re-read again and again, even if you know the line that is coming. Particularly in formal verse, much of the pleasure lies in the meter and rime for their own sake. KNowing the punchline doesn't detract from my enjoyment in rereading these Dorothy Parker gems, or E. A. Robinson. It is true that much of the set-up LOOKS easy and simple, but such simplicity is harder to achieve than you might think. And I think you'll find even on looking closer at "Fighting Words" that there is much art here, great care with diction. Is not "bitten raw with pride," for instance, a fine line in its own right? And the curious image "still you have my heart to wear"? (As on a sleeve, perhaps?)
|