The Ghost of Dorothy Parker profile picture

The Ghost of Dorothy Parker

I don't care what is written about me as long as it isn't true.

About Me



Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live.

My Interests

The days will rally, wreathing Their crazy tarantelle; And you must go on breathing, But I'll be safe in hell.

Like January weather, The years will bite and smart, And pull your bones together To wrap your chattering heart.

The pretty stuff you're made of Will crack and crease and dry. The thing you are afraid of Will look from every eye.

You will go faltering after The bright, imperious line, And split your throat on laughter, And burn your eyes with brine.

You will be frail and musty With peering, furtive head, Whilst I am young and lusty Among the roaring dead.

Love has gone a-rocketing. That is not the worst; I could do without the thing, And not be the first.

Joy has gone the way it came. That is nothing new; I could get along the same --- Many people do.

Dig for me the narrow bed, Now I am bereft. All my pretty hates are dead, And what have I left?

There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine; This living, this living, this living Was never a project of mine. Oh, hard is the struggle, and sparse is The gain of the one at the top, For art is a form of catharsis, And love is a permanent flop, And work is the province of cattle, And rest's for a clam in a shell, So I'm thinking of throwing the battle --- Would you kindly direct me to hell?

I'd like to meet:



Music:



Movies:

"The only ism Hollywood believes in is plagiarism."

Television:

"You can't teach an old dogma new tricks."

Books:

"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

Heroes:



My Blog

On Parker's "The Waltz"

[Currently, "The Waltz" is probably Parker's best known and most frequently anthologized short story. Two female voices, an external compliant one, and an internal critical one, construct the tale of ...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:24:00 PST

General Statements on Parker's Fiction

Arthur F. KinneyShort fiction is accomplished by restricting either the compass of the subject or the manner or presentation, or both. Parker usually limits her focus to a single scene; the single per...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:21:00 PST

from "Dorothy Parker and Her Intimate Public" by Nina Miller

Through what conjunction of subcultural identity, publicity, love discourse, and poetic conventions did Dorothy Parker generate the singularly popular and critically acclaimed Parker verse? What cultu...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:20:00 PST

On Parker and Humor

Suzanne L. BunkersDorothy Parker was not only a wit also a chronicler and a harsh critic of 1920s-1930s social roles. Her poems and short stories are not simply "cute" or "funny"; they also function a...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:12:00 PST

Parker on Humor, Wit, and Satire

Humor to me, Heaven help me, takes in many things. There must be courage; there must be no awe. There must be criticism, for humor, to my mind, is encapsulated in criticism. There must be a discipline...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 06:04:00 PST

Dorothy Parker and the Art of Light Verse

John HollanderSay I'm neither brave nor youngSay I woo and coddle care,Say the devil touched my tongue--Still you have my heart to wear.But say my verses do not scan,And I get me another man!This is t...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:59:00 PST

General Statements on Parker's Poetry

Arthur F. KinneySimply put, I want to argue that what appears monotonal in [Dorothy Parker's] work is actually a compound of confused or complicated voicings; her work is, nearly always, dialogic and ...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:54:00 PST

One Perfect Rose

One Perfect RoseDorothy ParkerA single flow'r he sent me, since we met.All tenderly his messenger he chose;Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet -One perfect rose.I knew the language of the f...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:48:00 PST

Résumé

RésuméDorothy Parker Razors pain you;Rivers are damp;Acids stain you;And drugs cause cramp.Guns aren't lawful;Nooses give;Gas smells awful;You might as well live.Peter Schakel and Jack RidlHere the ir...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 05:42:00 PST

Quotes

" Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." Four be the things I'd have been better without:Love, curiosity, freckles and doubt." A girl's best friend is her mutter." I require only three thi...
Posted by The Ghost of Dorothy Parker on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:48:00 PST