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Song of Perfect Propriety -- Dorothy Parker

Guest poem submitted by Zenobia Driver:
(Poem #638) Song of Perfect Propriety
 Oh, I should like to ride the seas,
   A roaring buccaneer;
 A cutlass banging at my knees,
   A dirk behind my ear.
 And when my captives' chains would clank
   I'd howl with glee and drink,
 And then fling out the quivering plank
   And watch the beggars sink.

 I'd like to straddle gory decks,
   And dig in laden sands,
 And know the feel of throbbing necks
   Between my knotted hands.
 Oh, I should like to strut and curse
   Among my blackguard crew....
 But I am writing little verse,
   As little ladies do.

 Oh, I should like to dance and laugh
   And pose and preen and sway,
 And rip the hearts of men in half,
   And toss the bits away.
 I'd like to view the reeling years
   Through unastonished eyes,
 And dip my finger-tips in tears,
   And give my smiles for sighs.

 I'd stroll beyond the ancient bounds,
   And tap at fastened gates,
 And hear the prettiest of sound-
   The clink of shattered fates.
 My slaves I'd like to bind with thongs
   That cut and burn and chill....
 But I am writing little songs,
   As little ladies will.
-- Dorothy Parker
Ever since I was a kid, I've been hearing those awful words, "Ladies don't
do such things". I hate that sentence. I hate walking daintily, speaking
softly and giggling with a gentle tinkling noise. Which is why I find Parker
brilliant. She professes utterly nasty, unladylike emotions - ooooooooooooo
I love it - and then ends with two soft little ladylike lines. The contrast
is hilarious.

Zen.

3 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Richard Passey said...

Hell I play Rugby I should know about unladylike.
Dottie is wonderful thanks for putting up the poem.
Rugger_chick5

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)

Dilys said...

No disorder dictates a life, our response to life dictates our life! Her response to life was to reset boundaries, to cope with adversity using wit and humor, to write down things we'd all like to say, but seldom have the courage.

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