Dorothy Parker was an American poet, writer, and critic known for her wit and sharp sense of humor. Her poems are often characterized by their clever wordplay and satirical commentary on life and love. Parker’s unique style and beautiful verses have made her one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century.
Unique and beautiful Dorothy Parker poems
“Resume”
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.“The Red Dress”
I always saw, I always said
If I were grown and free,
I’d have a gown of reddest red
As fine as you could see,
To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there’d be one to see me so
And flip the world away.“Unfortunate Coincidence”
By the time you swear you’re his,
Shivering and sighing,
And he vows his passion is
Infinite, undying –
Lady, make a note of this:
One of you is lying.“Symptom Recital”
I do not like my state of mind;
I’m bitter, querulous, unkind.
I hate my legs, I hate my hands,
I do not yearn for lovelier lands.
I dread the dawn’s recurrent light;
I hate to go to bed at night.
I snoot at simple, earnest folk.
I cannot take the gentlest joke.“Love Song”
My own dear love, he is strong and bold
And he cares not what comes after.
His words ring sweet as a chime of gold,
And his eyes are lit with laughter.
He is jubilant as a flag unfurled–
Oh, a girl, she’d not forget him.
My own dear love, he is all my world–
And I wish I’d never met him.“The Flaw in Paganism”
Drink and dance and laugh and lie,
Love, the reeling midnight through,
For tomorrow we shall die!
(But, alas, we never do.)“Fair Weather”
This level reach of blue is not my sea;
Here are sweet waters, pretty in the sun,
Whose quiet ripples meet obediently
A marked and measured line, each one.
This is no sea of mine. That murmurous gray,
Those veiling mists, that far-off, restless roar,
And cool, salt spray blown inland, streaming spray
They cease not here, they cease not at the shore.“Enough Rope”
Some men break your heart in two,
Some men fawn and flatter,
Some men never look at you;
And that cleans up the matter.“Observation”
If I don’t drive around the park,
I’m pretty sure to make my mark.
If I’m in bed each night by ten,
I may get back my looks again.
If I abstain from fun and such,
I’ll probably amount to much;
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.
These are just a few examples of Dorothy Parker’s incredible talent as a poet. Her ability to capture the complexities of human emotions and the ironies of life in such concise and poignant verses is truly remarkable. Whether she was writing about love, society, or personal struggles, Parker’s poems continue to resonate with readers today. Her unique style and beautiful words have secured her a place among the great poets of all time.
