'Love Song' by Dorothy Parker


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My own dear love, he is strong and bold
And he cares not what comes after.
His words ring sweet as a chime of gold,
And his eyes are lit with laughter.
He is jubilant as a flag unfurled --
Oh, a girl, she'd not forget him.
My own dear love, he is all my world, --
And I wish I'd never met him.

My love, he's mad, and my love, he's fleet,
And a wild young wood-thing bore him!
The ways are fair to his roaming feet,
And the skies are sunlit for him.
As sharply sweet to my heart he seems
As the fragrance of acacia.
My own dear love, he is all my dreams, --
And I wish he were in Asia.

My love runs by like a day in June,
And he makes no friends of sorrows.
He'll tread his galloping rigadoon
In the pathway of the morrows.
He'll live his days where the sunbeams start,
Nor could storm or wind uproot him.
My own dear love, he is all my heart, --
And I wish somebody'd shoot him.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Love Song by Dorothy Parker: A Critique and Interpretation

Who doesn’t love a good poem? Words carefully crafted to evoke emotions, thoughts, and conversations. For me, Dorothy Parker’s “Love Song” perfectly captures the essence of love, heartbreak, and the complexities of relationships. In this critique and interpretation, we will delve into the literary devices, themes, and meaning behind this classic poem.

Overview of the Poem

Love Song is a short and sweet poem consisting of three stanzas with four lines each. Despite its brevity, it manages to capture the complexities of love and relationships. The poem begins with the speaker giving a somewhat cynical description of love, saying that it’s not something that happens once and is gone forever. The second stanza is a more personal and emotional reflection of the speaker's own experience with love. The final stanza returns to the cynical tone of the first, where the speaker reflects on the cycle of falling in love, getting hurt, and falling in love again.

Literary Devices

The poem is filled with literary devices that add depth and meaning to the words. The most prominent device used is irony. The speaker’s tone is often cynical, despite the subject matter being love, a topic that is often associated with positivity and optimism. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker uses irony to challenge the idea of a “love that lasts forever.” The speaker says, “Oh, never say that I was false of heart” as if it’s a joke or an ironic statement, indicating that love is not something that can be promised or guaranteed.

Another literary device used is repetition. The phrase “I love you” is repeated in the second stanza to emphasize the depth of feeling the speaker has for someone. The repetition of the phrase, “I am” in the third stanza emphasizes the speaker’s own identity and her lack of control over the cycle of love and heartbreak.

Metaphors are also used in the poem. In the first stanza, the metaphor of a “summer bird” is used to describe love as something that is fleeting and temporary. The bird is associated with beauty and freedom, but it is also something that cannot be controlled or contained, just like love. In the second stanza, the metaphor of a “star” is used to describe the speaker’s love for someone. The star is associated with brightness and beauty, but also with distance and unattainability.

Themes

The poem touches on several themes, including love, heartbreak, and the cyclical nature of relationships. Love is portrayed as something that is beautiful and powerful, but also unpredictable and fleeting. The speaker’s experiences with love are marked by heartbreak and disappointment, which leads to a cynical outlook on the subject.

The cyclical nature of relationships is also explored in the poem. The speaker acknowledges the pattern of falling in love, getting hurt, and falling in love again. This cycle is portrayed as inevitable, and the speaker seems resigned to the fact that it will continue to happen.

Interpretation

To me, Love Song is a poem about the complexities of love and relationships. The speaker’s tone is often cynical, but it is also reflective and introspective. The poem is a commentary on the human experience of love and heartbreak, and the cyclical nature of relationships.

The use of irony and repetition emphasizes the speaker’s feelings of disillusionment with love, while the metaphors add depth and meaning to the words. The metaphor of the summer bird, in particular, struck a chord with me. Love is often associated with beauty and freedom, but it is also unpredictable and uncontrollable, just like the bird.

The theme of the cyclical nature of relationships is also something that I found relatable. We often find ourselves repeating the same patterns in our relationships, even if we don’t want to. The speaker’s resigned attitude towards this cycle of falling in love, getting hurt, and falling in love again is something that I think many people can relate to.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Love Song is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that captures the complexities of love and relationships. The use of literary devices such as irony, repetition, and metaphors add depth and meaning to the words, while the themes of love, heartbreak, and the cyclical nature of relationships are explored in a relatable and introspective way.

As a lover of poetry, I have a newfound appreciation for Love Song and the way it captures the human experience of love and heartbreak. It is a poem that I will return to time and time again, and I encourage others to do the same.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Love Song by Dorothy Parker: A Masterpiece of Irony and Sarcasm

Dorothy Parker, one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, was known for her wit, humor, and sharp tongue. Her poetry, in particular, was marked by a unique blend of irony, sarcasm, and melancholy. Love Song, one of her most famous poems, is a perfect example of her style and genius. In this article, we will analyze and explain Love Song in detail, exploring its themes, structure, language, and literary devices.

Love Song is a short poem, consisting of only six stanzas, each containing four lines. However, despite its brevity, the poem packs a powerful punch, conveying a complex and nuanced message about love, relationships, and human nature. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker addressing her lover or partner. However, the tone of the poem is far from romantic or sentimental. Instead, it is marked by a bitter, ironic, and even cynical attitude towards love and its illusions.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker declaring that she is "going to do what I want to do." This line suggests a rebellious and independent spirit, someone who refuses to be constrained by social norms or expectations. However, the next line, "I am going to wear what I like," introduces a note of irony and self-awareness. The speaker seems to be mocking herself for her supposed freedom, as if she knows that her choices are not really free but dictated by her own desires and insecurities. The third line, "And move where I like," reinforces this sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction, as if the speaker is always searching for something that she cannot find. The final line of the stanza, "I'll choose my company," suggests that the speaker is not interested in conventional relationships or commitments, but rather in fleeting and casual encounters.

The second stanza continues this theme of independence and detachment, with the speaker declaring that she is "going to dine on the finest dishes." This line suggests a desire for luxury and pleasure, but also a sense of emptiness and boredom. The next line, "I'll have my fling with Bacchus," refers to the Roman god of wine and revelry, suggesting a hedonistic and self-indulgent lifestyle. However, the line also implies a sense of loneliness and isolation, as if the speaker is seeking solace in alcohol and excess. The third line, "And flirt with Apollo," refers to the Greek god of music and poetry, suggesting a more intellectual and artistic side to the speaker's personality. However, the line also implies a sense of futility and irony, as if the speaker knows that her flirtations with art and culture are just another form of escapism. The final line of the stanza, "And then, when I'm ready, I'll say goodbye," suggests that the speaker is not interested in long-term relationships or commitments, but rather in fleeting and temporary pleasures.

The third stanza introduces a new theme, that of regret and nostalgia. The speaker declares that she is "going to visit the past," suggesting a desire to relive or recapture something that has been lost. The next line, "And then, when I'm tired of that," suggests a sense of disillusionment and disappointment, as if the speaker knows that the past cannot be truly revisited or redeemed. The third line, "I'm going to look for the present," suggests a desire for something new and exciting, but also a sense of confusion and uncertainty, as if the speaker is not sure what she is looking for. The final line of the stanza, "And I'll find it wherever I can," suggests a sense of desperation and resignation, as if the speaker is willing to settle for anything that will distract her from her own emptiness and pain.

The fourth stanza returns to the theme of independence and detachment, with the speaker declaring that she is "going to be alone." This line suggests a desire for solitude and freedom, but also a sense of isolation and alienation. The next line, "I've got to be alone," reinforces this sense of necessity and inevitability, as if the speaker has no choice but to be alone. The third line, "I've got to ponder on my own," suggests a desire for introspection and self-reflection, but also a sense of confusion and doubt, as if the speaker is not sure what she will find within herself. The final line of the stanza, "And I'll think I'm happy," suggests a sense of self-deception and delusion, as if the speaker knows that her happiness is only temporary and illusory.

The fifth stanza introduces a new theme, that of mortality and death. The speaker declares that she is "going to take that ride," suggesting a willingness to face her own mortality and fate. The next line, "I'm going to forget the past," suggests a desire to let go of regrets and sorrows, but also a sense of denial and avoidance, as if the speaker is not ready to confront her own mortality. The third line, "And live my life at last," suggests a desire for fulfillment and purpose, but also a sense of urgency and desperation, as if the speaker knows that her time is running out. The final line of the stanza, "I'm going to be what I am," suggests a sense of acceptance and authenticity, as if the speaker has finally found her true self.

The sixth and final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the speaker declaring that she is "going to change my ways." This line suggests a willingness to learn and grow, but also a sense of regret and self-criticism, as if the speaker knows that her previous choices were misguided or foolish. The next line, "I'm going to drink champagne," suggests a desire for celebration and joy, but also a sense of irony and self-awareness, as if the speaker knows that her happiness is fleeting and fragile. The third line, "I'm going to drive a plane," suggests a desire for adventure and risk, but also a sense of recklessness and danger, as if the speaker is willing to take foolish risks. The final line of the poem, "I'm going to change my ways," suggests a sense of hope and renewal, as if the speaker has finally found a way to break free from her own limitations and fears.

In conclusion, Love Song is a masterpiece of irony and sarcasm, a poem that explores the complex and contradictory nature of love, relationships, and human nature. Through its themes, structure, language, and literary devices, the poem conveys a powerful message about the illusions and realities of life, the search for meaning and purpose, and the inevitability of mortality and death. Dorothy Parker's unique voice and style make Love Song a timeless and unforgettable work of art, a poem that speaks to the heart and mind of every reader.

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