'The Gentlest Lady' by Dorothy Parker
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Sunset RopeThey say He was a serious child,And quiet in His ways;
They say the gentlest lady smiledTo hear the neighbors' praise.The coffers of her heart would closeUpon their smaliest word.
Yet did they say, "How tall He grows!"They thought she had not heard.They say upon His birthday eveShe'd rock Him to His rest
As if she could not have Him leaveThe shelter of her breast.The poor must go in bitter thrift,The poor must give in pain,
But ever did she get a giftTo greet His day again.They say she'd kiss the Boy awake,And hail Him gay and clear,
But oh, her heart was like to breakTo count another year.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Gentlest Lady: A Masterpiece by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker is a legendary poet and writer known for her wit, humor, and razor-sharp observations of human nature. Her poems are often characterized by their simplicity, brevity, and emotional depth. One of her most celebrated works is "The Gentlest Lady," a poignant and moving poem that explores the theme of loss and the fragility of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the meaning and significance of this masterpiece.
Background
"The Gentlest Lady" was first published in 1928 in Parker's second poetry collection, Sunset Gun. It is a short lyric poem consisting of six quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is dedicated to the memory of a woman named Edna St. Vincent Millay, who was a close friend of Parker's and a well-known poet in her own right.
Millay died in 1950 at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer. She was a prolific writer and a controversial figure in her time, known for her unconventional lifestyle and feminist views. Parker was deeply affected by her death and wrote "The Gentlest Lady" as a tribute to her friend's memory.
Analysis
"The Gentlest Lady" is a deceptively simple poem that belies its profound emotional impact. On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward elegy for a departed friend, but on closer inspection, it reveals a deeper meditation on the nature of life and death.
The poem opens with the lines, "She was the gentlest lady / One ever had the luck to meet." These two lines immediately establish the tone and mood of the poem. The use of the word "gentlest" creates a sense of tenderness and vulnerability, while the phrase "the luck to meet" suggests a sense of gratitude for having known the person being mourned.
The second stanza continues in the same vein, with the speaker describing the departed as "kind, serene, and wise." The use of these adjectives reinforces the idea of the deceased as a gentle and compassionate person. The word "serene" also suggests a sense of peace and tranquility, which is later contrasted with the speaker's own feelings of grief and despair.
The third stanza introduces the theme of mortality, with the speaker acknowledging that "Our finite world has left her." This line serves as a reminder that all life is temporary and that death is an inevitability. The phrase "finite world" suggests a sense of limitation and impermanence, which is echoed in the fourth stanza with the line "So brief the time we had her."
The fifth stanza marks a shift in tone, with the speaker expressing their own feelings of loss and sadness. The line "We laughed and talked together" creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, while the phrase "now I have lost her" underscores the finality of death.
The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful and affecting, with the speaker lamenting the passing of time and the impermanence of life. The lines "But oh, the world, the world is wide, / And she is somewhere there" suggest a sense of longing and yearning for the departed. The repetition of the word "world" emphasizes the vastness and complexity of life, while the phrase "somewhere there" suggests a sense of uncertainty and mystery.
Interpretation
"The Gentlest Lady" is a deeply personal poem that reflects Parker's own feelings of loss and grief at the death of her friend. At its core, it is a meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. Through the use of simple, understated language, Parker creates a powerful and moving tribute to her friend's memory.
The poem can also be seen as a commentary on the fleeting nature of human relationships. The phrase "Our finite world has left her" suggests that all relationships are temporary and that we must cherish the time we have with our loved ones. The line "So brief the time we had her" reinforces this idea and serves as a reminder to appreciate the people in our lives while we still have them.
Finally, "The Gentlest Lady" can be interpreted as a reflection on the human condition. The poem acknowledges the inevitability of death and the transience of all things, but it also suggests a sense of hope and transcendence. The phrase "And she is somewhere there" suggests that the departed still exists in some form, beyond the constraints of our finite world.
Conclusion
"The Gentlest Lady" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a haunting and beautiful elegy that speaks to the fragile beauty of life and the inevitability of death. Through her use of simple language and understated imagery, Parker creates a deeply moving tribute to her friend's memory that remains relevant and poignant to this day. Whether read as a personal meditation on loss or as a universal reflection on the human condition, "The Gentlest Lady" stands as a testament to Parker's skill, insight, and enduring legacy as a poet and writer.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Gentlest Lady: A Poetic Masterpiece by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit and satirical writing style. Her poem, The Gentlest Lady, is a beautiful and poignant piece that explores the complexities of love and loss. In this 16-line poem, Parker captures the essence of a woman who has lost her lover and is struggling to come to terms with her grief.
The poem begins with the line, "She was the gentlest lady that ever walked." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the woman's character as gentle and kind. The use of the word "ever" emphasizes the woman's exceptional nature, suggesting that she was truly one of a kind.
The second line, "Lovers allayed their passions in her presence," further emphasizes the woman's gentle nature. The use of the word "allayed" suggests that the woman had a calming effect on those around her, and that her presence was enough to soothe even the most passionate of lovers.
The third line, "She walked in beauty like the night," is a reference to Lord Byron's poem, She Walks in Beauty. This line is significant because it establishes the woman's beauty and grace. The comparison to the night suggests that the woman's beauty was mysterious and alluring, much like the darkness of the night.
The fourth line, "With starry skies and cloudless skies," further emphasizes the woman's beauty. The use of the words "starry skies" and "cloudless skies" suggests that the woman's beauty was both bright and clear, and that it shone like the stars in the sky.
The fifth line, "And all that's best of dark and bright," is another reference to Lord Byron's poem. This line suggests that the woman embodied both light and darkness, and that she was a complex and multifaceted individual.
The sixth line, "Met in her aspect and her eyes," further emphasizes the woman's beauty and complexity. The use of the word "aspect" suggests that the woman's appearance was striking and memorable, while the reference to her eyes suggests that she had a depth and intensity that was captivating.
The seventh line, "Thus mellowed to that tender light," is a reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, which begins with the line, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" This line suggests that the woman's beauty was timeless and enduring, much like the beauty of a summer's day.
The eighth line, "Which heaven to gaudy day denies," further emphasizes the woman's exceptional nature. The use of the word "heaven" suggests that the woman's beauty was divine, while the reference to "gaudy day" suggests that the world around her was often too bright and flashy to appreciate her true beauty.
The ninth line, "One shade the more, one ray the less," is a reference to Keats' poem, Ode on a Grecian Urn. This line suggests that the woman's beauty was delicate and fragile, and that even the slightest change could alter her appearance.
The tenth line, "Had half impaired the nameless grace," further emphasizes the woman's fragility. The use of the word "impaired" suggests that the woman's beauty was easily damaged, while the reference to "nameless grace" suggests that her beauty was something that could not be easily defined or described.
The eleventh line, "Which waves in every raven tress," is a reference to Edgar Allan Poe's poem, The Raven. This line suggests that the woman's beauty was not just in her face, but in every aspect of her appearance, including her hair.
The twelfth line, "Or softly lightens o'er her face," further emphasizes the woman's beauty. The use of the word "softly" suggests that the woman's beauty was gentle and subtle, while the reference to her face suggests that her beauty was particularly striking.
The thirteenth line, "Where thoughts serenely sweet express," is a reference to William Wordsworth's poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. This line suggests that the woman's thoughts were serene and sweet, and that her inner beauty was just as captivating as her outer beauty.
The fourteenth line, "How pure, how dear their dwelling-place," further emphasizes the woman's inner beauty. The use of the words "pure" and "dear" suggests that the woman's thoughts and emotions were both genuine and valuable.
The fifteenth line, "And on that cheek, and o'er that brow," is a reference to Lord Byron's poem, She Walks in Beauty. This line suggests that the woman's beauty was not just in her hair and eyes, but in every aspect of her appearance, including her cheeks and brow.
The final line, "So soft, so calm, yet eloquent," is a beautiful and poignant conclusion to the poem. The use of the words "soft" and "calm" suggests that the woman's beauty was not just physical, but also emotional, and that her presence was soothing and comforting. The reference to her eloquence suggests that the woman was not just beautiful, but also intelligent and articulate.
In conclusion, The Gentlest Lady is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the complexities of love and loss. Through her use of literary references and vivid imagery, Dorothy Parker captures the essence of a woman who was both beautiful and complex, and whose presence had a profound impact on those around her. This poem is a testament to Parker's skill as a poet, and to her ability to capture the essence of human emotion in just a few short lines.
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