'Distance' by Dorothy Parker
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Death and Taxes1931Were you to cross the world, my dear,To work or love or fight,
I could be calm and wistful here,And close my eyes at night.It were a sweet and gallant painTo be a sea apart;
But, oh, to have you down the laneIs bitter to my heart.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Distance by Dorothy Parker: A Critical Interpretation
Poetry has been the medium of expression for human emotions, feelings, and thoughts since time immemorial. Distance, a poem written by Dorothy Parker, captures the essence of the human condition, the longing for love, and the inevitable pain and suffering that come with it. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we shall delve deeper into the poem and explore its themes, motifs, and poetic devices that make it a classic.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem is composed of four stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, and the tone is melancholic and wistful. The speaker's voice is that of a person reflecting on the past, the present, and the future. The title, Distance, is symbolic of the emotional distance between two people who are in love but cannot be together. It is also a metaphor for the emotional distance that one feels when going through the pain of loss.
The First Stanza: Longing for Love
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is longing for love, and the absence of it is causing her pain. The first two lines, "Oh, love, why do we choose the kind / For which, alas, no cure we find?" express the speaker's frustration with the kind of love that is doomed to fail. This kind of love is one that is forbidden or unrequited, and the speaker wonders why people choose it even though it brings them pain.
The third line, "Do we desire, forsooth, to pay / In shattered peace the price one day?" suggests that the speaker believes that the pain of unrequited love is not worth the fleeting moments of happiness that it brings. The fourth line, "Forbid it, love, oh, forbid it, pray," is a plea to love to spare her from this pain.
The Second Stanza: The Pain of Loss
The second stanza is a continuation of the theme of pain. The speaker reflects on the pain of loss and the emptiness that it brings. The first line, "Oh, love, a year is an age of tears," suggests that time seems to stretch endlessly when one is grieving. The second line, "A moment's a mountain of love and fears," captures the intensity of emotions that one experiences when in love. The third line, "For you and for me, oh, the path of years," suggests that the speaker and her love are on different paths, and they may never converge.
The fourth line, "Is strewn with the wreckage of our dead selves. Ah, true, indeed," is a reflection on the pain of loss and the emotional wreckage that it brings. The use of the word "dead selves" suggests that the speaker has lost a part of herself in the process of loving and losing.
The Third Stanza: The Illusion of Love
The third stanza explores the illusion of love and how it can deceive us. The first line, "Oh, love, what is it that you see / When you make believe you're kissing me?" suggests that the speaker is questioning the authenticity of their love. The second line, "Is it a glimpse of the things to be, / Or just a mock at the things that were?" suggests that their love may not be real, and it may just be a way to escape the pain of the past.
The third line, "Is it a dream that we can't make true, / Or is it the mask that we wear for you?" suggests that their love may be a façade that they put on for the world to see. The fourth line, "Ah, true, indeed," is a reflection on the futility of their love and how it may never be realized.
The Fourth Stanza: Acceptance of Pain
The fourth and final stanza is a reflection on the acceptance of pain and the inevitability of loss. The first line, "Oh, love, I have loved you long and well, / Yet what is it that you can foretell?" suggests that the speaker has accepted the pain of loving and losing. The second line, "The tale of a life that is told to tell," suggests that their love may be a story that they tell themselves to make sense of their pain.
The third line, "The old, old tale that we know so well," suggests that their story is a common one, and many people have experienced the pain of love and loss. The fourth line, "Ah, true, indeed," is a final reflection on the inevitability of pain and how it is a part of the human experience.
Poetic Devices
Dorothy Parker uses several poetic devices to convey the themes of love, loss, and pain in the poem. The rhyme scheme is AABB, and the repetition of the phrase "Ah, true, indeed" at the end of each stanza creates a sense of finality and acceptance. The use of metaphors such as "the path of years" and "dead selves" adds to the depth of the poem and conveys a sense of despair and hopelessness.
The use of rhetorical questions such as "Oh, love, why do we choose the kind / For which, alas, no cure we find?" and "Oh, love, what is it that you see / When you make believe you're kissing me?" engages the reader and prompts them to reflect on the themes of the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Distance by Dorothy Parker is a classic poem that captures the essence of the human experience. The themes of love, loss, and pain are universal, and the poem resonates with readers even today. The use of poetic devices such as metaphors and rhetorical questions adds to the depth of the poem and conveys a sense of despair and hopelessness. The repetition of the phrase "Ah, true, indeed" at the end of each stanza creates a sense of finality and acceptance. Overall, Distance is a poignant and reflective poem that captures the complexities of love and loss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Distance: A Masterpiece by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker, the renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her sharp wit, humor, and satirical writing style. Her works have been widely acclaimed for their insightful commentary on the human condition, and her poem "Distance" is no exception. Published in 1925, "Distance" is a poignant and thought-provoking piece that explores the theme of emotional distance in relationships. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem and analyze its literary devices and techniques.
The poem "Distance" is a short, four-line piece that packs a powerful punch. It reads:
"Distance" By Dorothy Parker
Oh, you are too far away, Too far away for my eyes, Or my lips to reach, as say All the things they would devise.
At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple expression of longing for a distant lover. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there is much more to this poem than meets the eye. The poem's title, "Distance," sets the tone for the entire piece and suggests that the theme of distance will be explored in some way.
The first line of the poem, "Oh, you are too far away," immediately establishes the distance between the speaker and the object of her affection. The use of the word "too" suggests that the distance is not just physical but also emotional. The speaker feels that the distance between them is insurmountable, and this creates a sense of sadness and longing.
The second line, "Too far away for my eyes," reinforces the idea that the distance is physical. The speaker cannot see her lover, and this creates a sense of isolation and loneliness. The use of the word "my" emphasizes the speaker's personal experience of distance and suggests that this is a deeply felt emotion.
The third line, "Or my lips to reach, as say," introduces the idea that the distance is not just physical but also emotional. The speaker cannot express her feelings to her lover, even if they were in the same room. The use of the phrase "as say" suggests that the speaker has a lot to say to her lover but cannot find the words to express herself.
The final line, "All the things they would devise," reinforces the idea that the speaker has a lot to say to her lover but cannot find the words. The use of the word "devise" suggests that the speaker has been thinking about what she would say if she could, but has not been able to find the right words. The use of the word "they" suggests that the speaker's lips and eyes are separate entities from herself, emphasizing the emotional distance between her and her lover.
The poem's structure is also significant. The use of a single stanza with four lines creates a sense of brevity and simplicity. However, the poem's short length belies its complexity. Each line is carefully crafted to convey a specific emotion or idea, and the poem's overall structure creates a sense of unity and coherence.
The poem's use of imagery is also noteworthy. The image of the speaker's eyes and lips reaching out to her lover creates a sense of physical longing and desire. The use of the word "devise" suggests that the speaker has been thinking about what she would say to her lover, creating a sense of emotional longing and desire. The use of the word "too" emphasizes the insurmountable nature of the distance between the speaker and her lover, creating a sense of sadness and despair.
The poem's use of language is also significant. The use of the word "distance" in the title sets the tone for the entire piece and suggests that the theme of distance will be explored in some way. The use of the word "too" emphasizes the insurmountable nature of the distance between the speaker and her lover. The use of the phrase "as say" suggests that the speaker has a lot to say to her lover but cannot find the words to express herself. The use of the word "devise" suggests that the speaker has been thinking about what she would say if she could, but has not been able to find the right words.
In conclusion, "Distance" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the theme of emotional distance in relationships. Through its careful use of language, imagery, and structure, the poem conveys a sense of longing, sadness, and despair that is both universal and deeply personal. Dorothy Parker's skillful use of literary devices and techniques has created a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with readers today.
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