'Somebody's Song' by Dorothy Parker
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Enough Rope1925This is what I vow;
He shall have my heart to keep,
Sweetly will we stir and sleep,All the years, as now.
Swift the measured sands may run;
Love like this is never done;
He and I are welded one:This is what I vow.This is what I pray:
Keep him by me tenderly;
Keep him sweet in pride of me,Ever and a day;
Keep me from the old distress;
Let me, for our happiness,
Be the one to love the less:This is what I pray.This is what I know:
Lovers' oaths are thin as rain;
Love's a harbinger of pain-Would it were not so!
Ever is my heart a-thirst,
Ever is my love accurst;
He is neither last nor first:This is what I know.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Somebody's Song: A Masterpiece of Irony and Pain
Have you ever felt so alone that you could hear your own heartbeat echoing in your ears? Have you ever longed for someone so much that you would give anything just to know that they exist? If you have, then you will understand the raw emotion and heartbreaking irony that is Dorothy Parker's "Somebody's Song."
This poem is a masterpiece of understated pain and bitter irony, a perfect example of Parker's cutting wit and devastating insight into the human heart. In just eight short lines, she manages to capture the essence of unrequited love, the longing and the despair that comes with it, and the ultimate realization that the person you have been pining for was never really yours to begin with.
The poem begins with a haunting image: "This is what I vow;" the speaker is making a solemn promise, but to whom? The title "Somebody's Song" suggests that she is singing to someone, but who that someone is remains unclear. Is it an ex-lover, a current crush, a figment of her imagination? We don't know, and that ambiguity adds to the poem's sense of mystery and unease.
The next line is equally enigmatic: "He shall be mine." Who is "he"? Is he the same person the speaker was addressing in the first line, or someone else entirely? And why "shall" he be hers? Is this a prophetic statement, a desperate plea, or a threat? The use of the future tense imbues the line with a sense of inevitability, as if the speaker is trying to convince herself that her love will be requited simply by stating it as fact.
But then comes the gut-punch of the third line: "Forever." The speaker, in her desperation, is making a promise that she knows she cannot keep. Love is fickle and unpredictable, and to declare that it will last forever is to set oneself up for heartbreak. The use of the single word, separated from the rest of the line by a semicolon, emphasizes its importance and its weight.
The fourth line is where the poem really starts to hit home: "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad." This is a classic example of Parker's wit, but it is also a deeply sad and poignant image. The speaker's love is so intense that she can see beauty in even the most unappealing of things, like a toad preserved in vinegar. And yet, the fact that she has to resort to such a bizarre and unattractive comparison underscores the desperation of her situation.
The fifth line is where the poem takes its ironic turn: "His hair is as dark as a blackboard." Here, Parker is playing with our expectations and our preconceived notions of what is attractive. Dark hair is often seen as desirable, but by comparing it to a blackboard, a symbol of education and discipline, she subverts that expectation and turns it into something unappealing. The fact that the speaker can find beauty in something so mundane and unromantic speaks to the depth of her love, but it also highlights the futility of her efforts.
The final three lines are devastating in their simplicity: "I love him for his dear little ways, And the grin that he gives when he says his phrase." The use of "dear little ways" is both endearing and condescending, suggesting that the speaker loves this person in spite of, or perhaps because of, his quirks and imperfections. And yet, the fact that she has reduced him to a set of "ways" rather than a fully realized person is a reminder of the limitations of her love. As for "his phrase," we don't know what it is, but we can imagine the warmth and joy that it brings to the speaker's heart. And yet, we also know that it is not enough.
For all its brevity, "Somebody's Song" is a tour de force of poetic language and emotional depth. Parker manages to convey an entire world of longing and heartache in just eight lines, using irony and understatement to devastating effect. The fact that the poem remains so relevant and resonant almost a century after it was written speaks to its timeless quality and its lasting impact on readers.
In conclusion, "Somebody's Song" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a testament to Dorothy Parker's wit, insight, and emotional depth. If you have ever loved someone who did not love you back, or if you have ever felt the pain of unrequited love, then this poem will speak to you in a way that few others can. It is a reminder that love is both beautiful and terrible, and that sometimes the only way to survive it is to turn it into art.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and touch the soul of the reader. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Somebody's Song" by Dorothy Parker. This classic poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem "Somebody's Song" is a short but powerful piece of poetry that consists of only four stanzas. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This style of writing gives the poet the freedom to express their thoughts and emotions without being constrained by the rules of traditional poetry.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the line "I meant to find her when I came." This line suggests that the speaker is searching for someone, possibly a lost love. The use of the word "meant" implies that the speaker had a purpose or intention in mind when they set out to find this person. However, the line "But she was gone" suggests that the speaker was unable to find the person they were looking for. This creates a sense of loss and longing that is prevalent throughout the poem.
The second stanza of the poem continues with the theme of loss and longing. The speaker says, "In the wide streets, I sought her out." This line suggests that the speaker is searching for this person in a vast and open space, which could represent the world at large. The use of the word "sought" implies that the speaker is actively looking for this person, but they are unable to find them. The line "But she was not." reinforces the sense of loss and disappointment that the speaker is feeling.
The third stanza of the poem takes a different turn. The speaker says, "Up then, from tree to tree, I climbed." This line suggests that the speaker is now searching for this person in a more literal sense, possibly in a forest or wooded area. The use of the word "climbed" implies that the speaker is willing to go to great lengths to find this person. However, the line "I meant to find her where I ran" suggests that the speaker is still unable to locate this person. This creates a sense of frustration and desperation that is palpable in the poem.
The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of loss and longing to a climax. The speaker says, "But she was flown." This line suggests that the person the speaker was searching for is no longer in the same place or state that they were in before. The use of the word "flown" implies that this person has moved on or left the speaker behind. The final line of the poem, "Somewhere, and now, I cannot come," reinforces the sense of loss and finality that the speaker is feeling. This line suggests that the speaker has accepted that they will never be able to find this person and that they must move on with their life.
The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The use of free verse allows the poet to express their emotions in a raw and unfiltered way. The repetition of the phrase "I meant to find her" in the first three stanzas creates a sense of urgency and desperation that is palpable throughout the poem. The final stanza brings the themes of loss and longing to a climax, creating a sense of finality that is both heartbreaking and beautiful.
The use of literary devices in the poem adds depth and complexity to the themes of the poem. The repetition of the phrase "I meant to find her" is an example of anaphora, which is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. This literary device creates a sense of urgency and desperation that is palpable throughout the poem.
The use of imagery in the poem is also noteworthy. The line "Up then, from tree to tree, I climbed" creates a vivid image of the speaker searching for this person in a wooded area. The use of the word "flown" in the final stanza creates a sense of movement and change that is both powerful and poignant.
In conclusion, "Somebody's Song" by Dorothy Parker is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The use of free verse, repetition, and imagery creates a sense of urgency and desperation that is palpable throughout the poem. The final stanza brings the themes of the poem to a climax, creating a sense of finality that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. This classic poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and touch the soul of the reader.
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