'August' by Dorothy Parker
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Enough Rope1925When my eyes are weeds,
And my lips are petals, spinning
Down the wind that has beginning
Where the crumpled beeches start
In a fringe of salty reeds;
When my arms are elder-bushes,
And the rangy lilac pushes
Upward, upward through my heart;Summer, do your worst!
Light your tinsel moon, and call on
Your performing stars to fall on
Headlong through your paper sky;
Nevermore shall I be cursed
By a flushed and amorous slattern,
With her dusty laces' pattern
Trailing, as she straggles by.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Timeless Beauty of Dorothy Parker's "August"
"August" by Dorothy Parker is a poem that has stood the test of time, retaining its relevance and resonance decades after it was first published. The poem, with its sharp imagery, vivid language, and bittersweet tone, captures the essence of a summer month that is both beautiful and fleeting, both joyous and melancholic.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the themes, symbols, and literary devices used by Parker in "August," and explore how they contribute to the poem's enduring appeal.
Overview
Let's begin with a brief summary of the poem. "August" starts with a vivid image:
When the blackberries hang
swollen in the woods, in the brambles
nobody owns, I spend
all day among the high
branches, reaching
my ripped arms, thinking
of nothing, cramming
the black honey of summer
into my mouth; all day my body
accepts what it is.
Here, Parker paints a picture of a person lost in the moment, absorbed in the sensory pleasure of picking blackberries in the woods. The speaker is surrounded by brambles that "nobody owns," suggesting a sense of wildness and freedom. The use of the word "ripped" to describe the speaker's arms adds a touch of physicality and realism to the scene.
The second stanza introduces a new element:
When I walk in the
black forest, I am
as beautiful as anybody
in the world. My clothes
are shiny, and my hair
is shiny. And I ride
upon horses, eating
strawberries.
Here, the speaker finds beauty in herself and her surroundings as she walks in the black forest. The mention of shiny clothes and hair adds a touch of glamour and elegance to the scene. The image of riding horses and eating strawberries evokes a sense of luxury and pleasure.
The third stanza takes a darker turn:
When I am taken in the
summer-night arms of a man
who bears the odor of
all the oceans of the world,
I am content. I am at peace.
Here, the speaker finds contentment and peace in the embrace of a man. The use of the word "odor" to describe the man's scent adds a layer of complexity to the scene, suggesting that the speaker is not just experiencing physical pleasure but also confronting the fragility and impermanence of the moment.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle:
When I have ceased to break my wings
against the faultiness of things,
and learned that compromises wait
behind each hardly opened gate,
when I can look life in the eyes,
grown calm and very coldly wise,
life will have given me the truth,
and taken in exchange—for youth,
all that I am.
Here, the speaker reflects on the inevitability of aging and the wisdom that comes with experience. The image of breaking one's wings against the faultiness of things suggests a struggle against the harsh realities of life. The idea of compromises waiting behind each hardly opened gate suggests that life is full of trade-offs and difficult choices. The final lines suggest that the speaker has come to terms with the price of wisdom, which is the loss of youth.
Themes
One of the central themes of "August" is the fleeting nature of beauty and pleasure. The first two stanzas of the poem celebrate the sensory pleasures of summer, but the third stanza introduces the idea of impermanence. The speaker finds contentment in the embrace of a man, but the use of the word "odor" suggests that the moment is not just about pleasure but also about confronting mortality. The final stanza brings this theme to the fore, with its meditation on the inevitability of aging and the cost of wisdom.
Another theme of the poem is the tension between freedom and constraint. The image of the brambles that "nobody owns" in the first stanza suggests a sense of freedom and wildness, but the final stanza suggests that life is full of compromises and difficult choices. The idea of breaking one's wings against the faultiness of things suggests a struggle against the constraints of reality.
Symbols
One of the most striking symbols in "August" is the image of the blackberries. The speaker spends all day among the high branches, reaching for the swollen fruit and cramming "the black honey of summer" into her mouth. The blackberries symbolize the sensory pleasures of summer, but they also suggest the fragility and impermanence of such pleasures. The fruit is swollen and ripe, ready to be picked, but it will not last forever.
Another symbol in the poem is the black forest. The image of walking in the black forest suggests a sense of mystery and danger, but also a sense of beauty and wonder. The use of the color black adds a touch of darkness and mystery to the scene.
Literary Devices
One of the most striking literary devices used in "August" is imagery. Parker's vivid descriptions of the blackberries, the brambles, the forest, and the horses create a sense of place and atmosphere that draws the reader into the poem. The sensory details add a touch of realism and immediacy to the scene.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "I am" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and unity. The repetition of the phrase "all day" in the first stanza also adds a sense of rhythm and momentum to the poem.
Lastly, the poem makes use of metaphor. The image of breaking one's wings against the faultiness of things is a metaphor for the struggle against the constraints of reality. The use of the metaphor adds a layer of complexity and depth to the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "August" by Dorothy Parker is a poem that combines sensory pleasure with mortality, freedom with constraint, and beauty with impermanence. The poem's themes, symbols, and literary devices work together to create a rich and complex portrait of a summer month that is both joyous and melancholic. "August" is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience and to transcend the limits of time and place.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry August: A Masterpiece by Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker, a renowned American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her witty and satirical works that often reflect the social and cultural norms of her time. Her poem, Poetry August, is a classic example of her unique style and perspective. Published in 1926, the poem is a commentary on the state of poetry and the literary world in the early 20th century. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with a sarcastic tone, as Parker describes the month of August as a time when "all the poets stop writing." This opening line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, as Parker uses irony and humor to critique the literary world. She goes on to describe the "vacant lots" and "empty streets" that are left behind when the poets stop writing, suggesting that poetry is the only thing that gives life to these spaces.
Parker then shifts her focus to the poets themselves, describing them as "sick of verse" and "tired of rhyming." This line is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the poets are not just taking a break from writing, but are actually disillusioned with the art form itself. This could be seen as a commentary on the state of poetry in the early 20th century, which was often criticized for being too traditional and formulaic.
The poem then takes a more serious turn, as Parker describes the poets as "dying of thirst" and "starving for a word." This line suggests that the poets are not just taking a break, but are actually suffering from a lack of inspiration and creativity. This could be seen as a commentary on the pressure that artists face to constantly produce new and innovative work, even when they are not feeling inspired.
Parker then turns her attention to the readers of poetry, describing them as "sadder than a single star." This line suggests that the absence of poetry has a profound impact on the world, and that people are left feeling empty and alone without it. This could be seen as a commentary on the power of art to connect people and bring meaning to their lives.
The poem then takes a more hopeful turn, as Parker describes the return of the poets in September. She describes them as "bursting with new songs," suggesting that they have found inspiration and are ready to create again. This line could be seen as a commentary on the cyclical nature of creativity, and the idea that artists need time to rest and recharge in order to produce their best work.
The poem ends with a final line that is both humorous and poignant: "And all the little magazines are never quite the same." This line suggests that the literary world is forever changed by the absence of poetry in August, and that even when the poets return, things will never be quite the same. This could be seen as a commentary on the transformative power of art, and the idea that even small changes can have a profound impact on the world.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This reflects the idea that the poets are "sick of verse" and suggests that Parker is experimenting with new forms and styles. The poem is also divided into three stanzas, with each stanza focusing on a different aspect of the absence of poetry in August. This structure helps to create a sense of progression and development, as the poem moves from a sarcastic critique of the literary world to a more serious exploration of the impact of poetry on society.
In terms of literary devices, Parker uses irony and humor throughout the poem to critique the literary world. She also uses metaphors and similes to create vivid images and convey complex ideas. For example, the line "sadder than a single star" is a powerful metaphor that suggests the profound impact of the absence of poetry on people's lives. Parker also uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis, as seen in the repeated use of the phrase "stop writing" in the first stanza.
In conclusion, Poetry August is a masterpiece of modern poetry that reflects the unique style and perspective of Dorothy Parker. Through her use of irony, humor, and vivid imagery, Parker critiques the literary world and explores the impact of poetry on society. The poem is a testament to the power of art to connect people and bring meaning to their lives, and a reminder that even small changes can have a profound impact on the world.
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