Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Resume -- Dorothy Parker

       
(Poem #150) 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.
-- Dorothy Parker
Another poem that needs very little by way of commentary (which part
*don't* you understand? <g>). 'Resume' is certainly Parker's best-known
poem, though not necessarily her best, and in a way it captures her
style perfectly - at once humorous and despairing; flippant on the
surface, yet concealing an undercurrent of pain[1], and above all
perfectly polished. Parker's poetry has been criticised for its
brittleness; it admittedly comes nowhere near the sheer brilliance of
her short stories, or the rapier wit of her reviews, but it's still
entertaining, often incisive and at times even moving.

m.

[1] Not immediately obvious when reading the poem in isolation, but
suggested when taken in the context of her life and work.

Assessment:

There's a nice essay at [broken link] http://www.dorothyparker.com/blah/

Biography:

Parker, Dorothy

b. Aug. 22, 1893, West End, N.J., U.S.
d. June 7, 1967, New York, N.Y.

nee ROTHSCHILD, American short-story writer and poet, known for her
witty remarks.

Parker grew up in affluence in New York City, attending Miss Dana's
School in Morristown, N.J., and a Roman Catholic convent school in New
York City. She then became drama critic for the magazine Vanity Fair.
She and two other writers for the magazine--Robert Benchley, the
humorist, and Robert Sherwood, then a drama critic and later a
playwright--formed the nucleus of the Algonquin Round Table, an informal
luncheon club held at New York's Algonquin Hotel. She married Edwin Pond
Parker II in 1917 (divorced 1928).

Discharged from Vanity Fair in 1920 for the acerbity of her drama
reviews, she became a freelance writer. She initiated a personal kind of
book reviewing in The New Yorker magazine as "Constant Reader." Some of
these reviews, which started in 1927 and appeared intermittently until
1933, were collected in A Month of Saturdays (1971). Her first volume of
verse, Enough Rope, was a best-seller when it appeared in 1926. Two
other books of verse, Sunset Gun (1928) and Death and Taxes (1931), were
collected with it in Collected Poems: Not So Deep as a Well (1936).

In 1929 she won the O. Henry Award for the best short story of the year
with "Big Blonde," a compassionate account of an aging party girl.
Laments for the Living (1930) and After Such Pleasures (1933) were
collections of her short stories, combined and augmented in 1939 as Here
Lies. Characteristic of both the stories and verses is a view of the
human situation as simultaneously tragic and funny.

In 1933, newly married, she and her second husband, Alan Campbell, went
to Hollywood to collaborate as film writers, receiving screen credits
for more than 15 films, including A Star Is Born (1937), nominated for
an Academy Award. She became active in left-wing politics, disdained her
former role as a smart woman about town, reported from the Spanish Civil
War, and discovered that her beliefs counted against her employment by
the studios in the fervour of anticommunism that seized Hollywood after
World War II. She wrote book reviews for Esquire magazine and
collaborated on two plays: The Coast of Illyria (first performance
1949), about the English essayist Charles Lamb, performed briefly in
Dallas, Texas, and London; and The Ladies of the Corridor (1953), about
lonely widows in side-street New York hotels, which had a short run on
Broadway. An earlier play, Close Harmony, written with Elmer Rice, also
had a short New York run in 1924.

Parker's witty remarks are legendary. When told of the death of the
taciturn U.S. president Calvin Coolidge, she is said to have asked, "How
can they tell?" Of Katharine Hepburn's performance in a 1934 play,
Parker said she "ran the gamut of emotions from A to B." She also is
responsible for the couplet "Men seldom make passes / at girls who wear
glasses."

        -- EB

120 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Bleheather123 said...

blunt, to the point. dorothy parker was one of the best writers, ever.

Michael J. Hardy EMT-BD said...

Blunt and to the point , yes.

I learned and memorized this peom my sophmore year in High School. Not only has it stuck with me all these years, but it saved my life. I have helped others by telling them this poem. I feel it should be an integral part of any persons office that deals in suicidal people. Dorothy had her head on straight when she wrote this.

I can only say thank you to my teacher Mr.Thompson at Sahuaro High in Tucson, AZ for making me learn this poem.

Razors Pain you;
Rivers are damp,
Acids stain you:
Drugs cause cramp.

Guns aren't lawful;
nooses give.
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
--- Dorothy R. Parker

Deanna McSpadden said...

I found this poem in the 70's in high school. Somehow to this day I
have it still memorized. My daughter is doing a paper on suicide for a
Psych class. This poem just flew out of my mouth, so naturally, I
decided to try to find who the author was (I don't think my daughter
believed that I didn't make it up!) I enjoyed reading about Dorothy
Parker. Thanks!

Deanna

Handjive29 said...

I found this poem in the 80's and it struck home hard with the problems at
the time , and its one of those thing that just stays with you. kinda keeps you
sane to know its a normal thing to have bad as well as good thoughts. and a
special thanks to mrs. parker for putting itto such a commonly felt phrase, even
when we always cant put it into words.

Gina Vanezis said...

I like this poem as it gets straight to the point and keeps an almost light hearted feel even though it concerns such a serious issue. I like the way that Parker has flipped the perspective and discusses why you should not commit suicide instead of saying why you should want to live. This poem is very straightforward and to the point which is also why I think it is good.

Sophia Vanezis

Dr. Tsang Pak Ho said...

Dorothy was suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. This is not an
uncommon "disorder" one can find among people one knows, overwhelmingly in
women. Her personality "disorder" dictates her life events and her writings.

TPH (a doctor)

may bago said...

hi ms. parker

actually this is not a comment i just want to know
more about the poem which entitled resume. i just want
to know the reason why does resume was written? I have
to research about this and I cantable to find it thats
why I decided to use this one.

Thanks!!!!

God Bless!

Anonymous said...

This poem is stated in the movie " Girl Interrupted" by Angelina Jolie's character, Lisa. After hearing this, I listened to it over and over again until I had it memorized. I still repeat it in my head on days Im feeling down.

- a current borderline

Laura M. Steinert said...

This poem kept me alive through junior high. What may seem humorous and
too simple to contemplate for the well adjusted can mean much to those
it was intended to address.

The South Texas College domain name has changed from stcc.cc.tx.us to southtexascollege.edu. Please update your contact list.

Tanya said...

I too, like others on this thread, think this is a great poem. But
unlike others I don't see it as comforting, it doesn't make me feel
less suicidal. I read it and see a sort of sad hopelessness in it. You
might as well live? because suicide is too painful— It doesn't make me
feel better. But the clever irony in it does make me laugh despite
feeling sad. I also might add, there is an idea that suicide is
contagious, (the reason reports of suicides are suppressed in the
newspapers)- I am surprised that someone's high school teacher gave
them this poem.

Anonymous said...

i am not a doctor, but i can tell you, many doctors become doctors because they have a god complex OR they know they are a mess and need to hide it ,by judgement of those they can only pin down with medication!!!!
im not a doctor cause they are idiots! dr thppthtphhtphhtphhtphpth
i have healed more then most doctors by kindness food and touch! a doctor who needs to share his opinion of a dead person, is dead in side !!!! thanks for letting us know how smart u r dr. we all know she was different thats why she is famous!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

To me it did not mean killing your self was to painful but it too was also pointless . I have read this piece over and over and for me it seems she is saying might as well live because death is not any better then life .

Anonymous said...

I think of suicide on almost a daily basis. A friend of mine suggested this poem. It is the ignorance and negligence by others that causes my suffering. Pain to live, pain to die. Nothing is easy. Please stop judging and labeling someone because they are different.

Anonymous said...

I was a feshman in high school in 1995 when my English teacher, Miss Michelena from Page High School, wrote this poem on the board. I immediately wrote it down in my book and it seemed to have stuck with me. I am grateful for having been introduced to this poem as it too has helped me in some dark places. It always seems to creep back into my head when it is needed. Thank you Miss Mich!

Anonymous said...

Get your resume services Edmonton and be certain that you will get the job of your dreams. He handles your resume personally and makes sure that you get the spot that you like.

Anonymous said...

Touche. Solid arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.



Feel free to surf to my web-site sprachkurse japanisch
Feel free to visit my web page ... getting started with wordpress

Anonymous said...

I've learn some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you place to make any such magnificent informative site.

Also visit my web site - wordpress custom themes
Here is my blog : wordpress how to

cheapest broadband and phone package said...

I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.

Anonymous said...

Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you're working with? I'm planning to start my
own blog in the near future but I'm having a hard time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I'm looking
for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!


my weblog; Ernährung ohne Weizen
My web page > glutenfreie Essensweiße

Anonymous said...

Congrats to Mr. Lopez on being the first resume examples. Hopefully the new fraud prevention elements will help as I have come across a few forged ones in my day in the mtge business.

Anonymous said...

There's definately a lot to find out about this issue. I like all of the points you have made.

Feel free to visit my page - auflauf rezepte

Anonymous said...

Hmm it appears like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I
guess I'll just sum it up what I had written and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any suggestions for rookie blog writers? I'd definitely appreciate it.


My weblog: low carb diet plan

Anonymous said...

Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere,
when i read this post i thought i could also make comment due to
this good article.
cleaning hardwood floors

Anonymous said...

fantastic post, very informative. I'm wondering why the other experts of this sector don't understand this.
You must continue your writing. I'm confident, you've a huge readers' base already!

Here is my web site ... paleo diät anfangen
Also see my website :: rezepte für steinzeitdiät

Anonymous said...

I know this website provides quality based articles and other data,
is there any other web page which offers these information in quality?


Here is my website alternative investments jobs

Anonymous said...

Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason
appeared to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they plainly
don't know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

Feel free to surf to my webpage :: toenail fungus treatment
my web site > zetaclear nail fungus relief

Anonymous said...

Good site you have got here.. It's difficult to find excellent writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

My blog post ... uniform for housekeeping

Anonymous said...

I all the time used to read post in news papers but now as I am a user of net thus from now I am
using net for articles, thanks to web.

My site professional wordpress themes

Anonymous said...

I've been browsing on-line more than three hours these days, yet I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It's beautiful value sufficient for me.

Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made
just right content material as you probably did, the web might be much more helpful than ever before.



Feel free to visit my web page; www.flooranddecoroutlets.com

purchase a dissertation said...

Thanks to this blog I finally managed to find the information matching my criteria and for this I would like to thank the author for sharing this blog with us. Looking forward for more.

Anonymous said...

You should use online resume template, very bad resume example.

Resume Writers said...

Hi – It’s good to read such interesting stuff on the Internet as I have been able to discover here. I agree with much of what is written here and I’ll be coming back to this website again. Thanks again for posting such great reading material!! To get new information visit here
best 10 resume writers

Unknown said...

I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Free PC Games

Unknown said...

Your post is very exciting and informative.This topic is something that I have been looking into for a while now and your insight is exceptional. essay writers uk , professional dissertation writing


Unknown said...

This was such a nice read. I might say that this article has been so important in blogging. dissertation writing services

Unknown said...

I would like to thank the author for this marvelous efforts. I appreciate your efforts in preparing this post. I really like your blog articles.
Students Help

mua thuoc tot said...

Giảm cân có nhiều cách , nhưng cách giảm cân bằng ăn các loại thức ăn được nhiều người dùng đến , món ăn giúp giảm cân, thực đơn giảm cân cấp tốc sẽ giúp bạn có được thân hình đẹp và thon gọn. Khó ngủ hiện nay đang gặp phải ở rất nhiều người , cả già và trẻ .bi kho ngu phai lam sao ? Có nhiều cách trị khó ngủ .Gan là bộ phận lọc các chất độc trong cơ thể người , chính vì vậy việc giải độc gan rất quan trọng . thuốc giải độc gan tốt sẽ giúp bạn có được gan khỏe mạnh . Collagen giúp trẻ hóa làn da và ngăn ngừa các nếp nhăn , kéo dài tuổi thanh xuân, thực phẩm có nhiều collagen sẽ giúp bạn có được làn da đẹp và trẻ mỗi ngày .

hadirkanlah said...

Thank you for your very nice article, do not forget to read my articles also
kata kata cinta
foto artis korea
status fb lucu
and many other interesting articles on my blog that.

Anonymous said...

Vitamin telah diketahui tidak berguna untuk mencegah kanker, walaupun tingkat yang rendah dari vitamin D berhubungan dengan peningkatan resiko kanker. Apakah ini merupakan sebab akibat dan suplemen vitamin D bersifat melindungi tidak pernah dinyatakan. Suplemen Beta-Carotene telah diketahui meningkatkan kanker paru-paru pada mereka yang beresiko tinggi. Asam folat telah diketahui tidak berguna untuk mencegah kanker usus, bahkan justru menuingkatkan terjadinya polip pada usus besar. Tidak jelas apakah suplemen selenium mempunyai efek pengobatan/pencegahan. selain itu, seiring dengan perkembangan jaman, kini pengobatan penyakit ini sudah banyak di lakukan secara herbal, salah satunya dengan menggunakan produk ziirzax dan typhogell, dan untuk info lebih lengkap, silahkan baca spesifikasi produk obat kanker ziirzax dan typhogell.

zarena cantik said...

perfect perfect fried rice, good post for the beginners as well..Super Prema, loved the presentation very much
Selaput Dara Buatan
Vimax asli Canada
Obat Perangsang
viagra usa
Bio Slim Herbal
Boneka Full Body
vimax canada

Unknown said...

Creative reading! This is one of your certain approached in writing field and very insightful for everyone
 Captain America Female Jacket

Curtis said...

Dorothy Parker is indeed a very great writer. Her poems are not only attractive but also very educative. Though her life was not without controversies, I'm sure that she has left a lot that we can learn from. Thanks a lot for sharing the with us.
Human and Fungal Amylase Lab Report

Geography Dissertation said...

This is really great work. Thank you for sharing such a useful information here in the blog.
Consumer Behaviour Dissertation
Geography Dissertation

thnidu said...

Please get rid of the spam.

freesoft said...

This resume is doing best dorothy parker is fantastic. Showbox Apk

Free Product Keys said...

It is really a great and useful piece of information.
EaseUS Data Recovery crack

Matthew said...

Dorthy Parker has always been one of my fav. The most attractive parts are the rhyme schemes which with the accuracy of the topic of the poem.

Computers Technology said...

Avast Driver Updater Key is the most useful tool to update the driver of your operating system. For the activation of Avast Driver Updater Key, you need an activation key.

Computers Technology said...

http://dpupr.solokkab.go.id/berita-bupati-melantik-pejabat-pimpinan-tinggi-pratama-administrator-dan-pelaksana-pada-disdukcapil-.html
http://cms.pro.boxoffice.com/reviews/2013-01-parker

Kashif said...

Visit Here
Full version crack software is here

Gerard said...

Nice post! Thanks for sharing this information. Looking for help with thesis or dissertation data analysis? Get online qualitative and quantitative data analysis services from the leading Research Projects Writing Company at an affordable cost. Our experts are available 24/7.

Cheap Assignment Writers said...

This post is quite informative. I love your articles a lot. Are you also searching for nursing research paper help we are the best solution for you. We are best known for delivering the best services to students without having to break the bank

soul said...

Really amazing work keep doing and keep spreading the information , like your post . regards... thepiratepc

soul said...

Really amazing work keep doing and keep spreading the information , like your post . regards... thepiratepc

soul said...

Really amazing work keep doing and keep spreading the information , like your post . regards... thepiratepc

Sure Assignment Help said...

Just found sureassignmenthelp.com with the best and superb quality writing in various subjects.

Hashim said...

I am very happy to read this article. Thanks for giving us Amazing info. Fantastic post.
Thanks For Sharing such an informative article, Im taking your feed also, Thanks.cleanmymac-x-crack-keygen/

smile said...

I was looking for this information from enough time and now I reached your website it’s really good content.
Thanks for writing such a nice content for us.
2020/03/23/kms-cleaner-free-download-2020

igoal88 said...

Thank you for sharing the great information with us. this blog is
very good and informative.
download igoal

Softs 32 said...

Hi Dear, I like your post style as it’s unique from the others. I’m seeing on the page.
Tenorshare 4MeKey

123bet said...

good site Lots of useful information here. Send to a friend. คาสิโนมือถือ


profreesoftwarez@gmail.com said...

Reverend Davies died of hemorrhaging from a blood clot in one of his lungs while he was working in his study at the church’s parsonage on September 26, 1957. He was 55 years old. The memorial service held at All Souls Church two days later was attended by three sitting Supreme Court Justices—Hugo Black, Harold Burton and William O. Douglas. According to the Washington Post, Davies was cremated.[17]

Sally said...

Hello. fantastic work. I didn't anticipate this. This is an amazing tale. Thanks!

Yoon said...

There is perceptibly a lot to identify about this.
I assume you made certain nice points in features also.

casinositeone.JDS said...

I am a fan of reading to add insight to information.

casinosite777top.JDS said...

Thank you for this great blog. this is here, the few months I am visiting and following you.

casinositeguidecom.JDS said...

What I really like about you is that your writing style. Feel free to visit my website;

safetotositepro.JDS said...

Everything is very open with a clear description of the issues.

카지노사이트위키 said...

Thanks designed for sharing such a pleasant idea, post is fastidious, thats why i have read it fully

온라인카지노 said...

Very quickly this web site will be famous due to it’s good articles. greattt

카지노사이트탑 said...

If all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, Keep it up

카지노사이트킹 said...

Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time

casinositerank said...

You absolutely have wonderful stories.

betsarang said...

Thank you for the good information you share with us.

Alannah said...

Very interesting information, worth recommending. This is important, though it's necessary to help you head over to it weblink:

Rhona said...

I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. However, I recommend this:

casinositeking com 123 said...


Definitely what a great blog and instructive posts I definitely will bookmark your site.All the Best!

Millie said...



I appreciate you sharing this blog.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.

Roman said...



very very good website

Roman said...



very very good website

casinositezone said...


I hope you will be adding more in future.

clouded said...

I've been reading some of your blog postings, and I find this place to be really educational. Continue posting.

casinositekingcom said...


Nice Blog. Thanks for sharing with us. Such amazing information.

Ezekiel said...


Very appreciated post

Myles said...


thank you again for allowing me to read these posts, and have a nice day today. Thank youuu.

Cooper said...


I looked on the net for more information

Charley said...



Thank you , this is really useful information towards my assessment

Gianna said...


Look into my web site

Johnny said...

The article was very nice. I really appreciate your work. It was intresting to read.keep posting more blogs.Reckless Driving New Jersey

Eliana said...


Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the challenges.

Serenity said...


This is a very good post which I really enjoy reading.

safetotosite said...

Really informative post.Really looking forward to read more.

casinositenet said...

Very good post, thank you. I am surprised to find your website.

mttotosite said...

I am mainly passionate about your outstanding achieve!

먹튀검증 said...

It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog.

카지노 said...

Nice site you got here, very awesome and good content.

먹튀검증토토사이트 said...

Thanks For Sharing Such An Excellent Post Enjoyed Reading it.

온라인카지노 said...

Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site.

사이트 said...

Hello, I’m happy to see some great articles on your site.

파워볼실시간 said...

You need to know that you’re doing a really good job.

사설 토토사이트 said...

I regard something truly special in this site.

토토사이트 추천 said...

Excellent information Providing by this Article thank you for sharing.

바카라사이트 said...

Hello there, You have performed an excellent article..Goodjob!

sportstoto365 said...

Really nice post. Thank you for posting something like this. Keep it up!

Post a Comment