'Tombstones In The Starlight' by Dorothy Parker
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I. The Minor Poet
His little trills and chirpings were his best.
No music like the nightingale's was born
Within his throat; but he, too, laid his breast
Upon a thorn.
II. The Pretty Lady
She hated bleak and wintry things alone.
All that was warm and quick, she loved too well-
A light, a flame, a heart against her own;
It is forever bitter cold, in Hell.
III. The Very Rich Man
He'd have the best, and that was none too good;
No barrier could hold, before his terms.
He lies below, correct in cypress wood,
And entertains the most exclusive worms.
IV. The Fisherwoman
The man she had was kind and clean
And well enough for every day,
But, oh, dear friends, you should have seen
The one that got away!
V. The Crusader
Arrived in Heaven, when his sands were run,
He seized a quill, and sat him down to tell
The local press that something should be done
About that noisy nuisance, Gabriel.
Vl. The Actress
Her name, cut clear upon this marble cross,
Shines, as it shone when she was still on earth;
While tenderly the mild, agreeable moss
Obscures the figures of her date of birth.
Editor 1 Interpretation
TOMBSTONES IN THE STARLIGHT: A LITERARY CRITICISM
Dorothy Parker's Tombstones in the Starlight is a haunting and melancholic poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and the fleeting nature of human existence. It is a poem that is both beautiful and poignant, capturing the essence of life and its transience. In this literary criticism, we will explore the poem in detail, analyzing its themes, imagery, and symbolism to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
Setting the Scene
The poem is set in a graveyard, a place where the dead are laid to rest. The opening lines of the poem create a vivid image of this setting, "The thing that has been is that which shall be / And that which is done is that which shall be done." These lines suggest that the graveyard is a place where time stands still, where the past and the present merge into one, and where the dead are forever enshrined in their tombs.
The Theme of Death
Death is a dominant theme in the poem, and Parker explores it with great sensitivity and depth. The graveyard is a place where death is omnipresent, where the living are reminded of their own mortality. The lines, "There's a whisper down the field where the year has shot her yield, / And the ricks stand gray to the sun," convey the idea of the passing of time and the cycle of life and death.
Loss and Grief
The poem also deals with the themes of loss and grief. The lines, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; / And that which is done is that which shall be done," suggest that the dead are forever gone, and that there is no going back. The imagery of "the ricks stand gray to the sun" also conveys a sense of loss and decay, as if the very fabric of life is slowly unraveling.
The Transience of Life
The poem also explores the theme of the transience of life. The image of the tombstones in the starlight suggests that even in death, nothing is permanent. The stars, which are also symbolic of eternity, shine down on the graves, reminding the living that life is fleeting and that all things must come to an end.
The Symbolism of the Tombstone
The tombstone is a powerful symbol in the poem, representing the final resting place of the dead. The lines, "The broken year will make no show / In here until the judgment morning, / And birds will forget how to sing," suggest that the dead are forever silent, their voices silenced by death. The tombstone also represents the finality of death, as if the dead are forever locked away in their tombs, unable to escape the clutches of the grave.
The Imagery of the Starlight
The starlight is a beautiful and haunting image in the poem, representing the eternal nature of the universe. The stars, which have been shining for billions of years, are a reminder that even in death, there is something that endures. The lines, "Tombstones in the starlight / Mingling their little lights / With the great horizontals of the stars," convey the idea that even in death, there is something that connects us to the universe.
The Role of the Poet
The poet plays an important role in the poem, as if she is the voice of the dead. The lines, "I have seen and heard, / Lone things in the lifting night," suggest that the poet has a deep connection to the dead, as if she is able to communicate with them in some way. The poet is also a witness to the transience of life, as if she is able to see beyond the surface of things and glimpse the deeper mysteries of the universe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tombstones in the Starlight is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and the transience of life. Through its imagery and symbolism, it conveys a sense of the eternal nature of the universe, even in the face of death. The poem is a tribute to the dead, a reminder that even in death, there is something that endures. Dorothy Parker's mastery of language and imagery is evident in this powerful poem, which continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Tombstones In The Starlight: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, and critic, is known for her wit and satire. Her poem, Tombstones In The Starlight, is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of life and death. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with a description of a graveyard at night. The speaker describes the tombstones as "white as snow" and the stars as "bright as day." The contrast between the darkness of the graveyard and the brightness of the stars creates a haunting atmosphere. The speaker then reflects on the fact that the people buried in the graveyard were once alive, just like the living. The line "They were human once, no more and no less" emphasizes the fact that death is the great equalizer. No matter how rich or poor, famous or unknown, we all end up in the same place.
The second stanza of the poem is where Parker's wit and satire come into play. The speaker imagines the dead rising from their graves and looking around at the world they left behind. The line "What would they say of the world today?" is a rhetorical question that highlights the absurdity of the world we live in. The dead would be shocked and appalled at the state of the world, with its wars, poverty, and injustice. The speaker then imagines the dead returning to their graves, "with a sigh for every sorrow and a wail for every wrong." This line is a commentary on the human condition. We are all aware of the suffering in the world, but we are powerless to do anything about it.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The speaker reflects on the fact that the dead are forgotten by the living. The line "The world goes on, and they're forgotten" is a reminder that life goes on, even after we die. The speaker then imagines the dead looking up at the stars and feeling a sense of peace. The line "They sleep beyond enduring" is a beautiful way of describing the eternal rest of the dead. The final line of the stanza, "And life goes on in endless song," is a reminder that life is cyclical. We are born, we live, and we die, but life goes on.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality. The line "And I, who have been dead so long" is a metaphor for the fact that we are all dying, from the moment we are born. The speaker then imagines herself as one of the tombstones, "white as snow" and "cold as clay." The final line of the poem, "Oh, pray for me, long dead and gone," is a plea for remembrance. The speaker wants to be remembered after she is gone, just like the people buried in the graveyard.
In conclusion, Tombstones In The Starlight is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of life and death. The poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. Parker's use of wit and satire adds depth and complexity to the poem. The haunting atmosphere of the graveyard at night, the absurdity of the world we live in, and the poignancy of the dead being forgotten by the living all contribute to the power of the poem. The final stanza is a reminder that we are all mortal and that we all want to be remembered after we are gone. Tombstones In The Starlight is a timeless poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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