For An Unknown Lady

Dorothy Parker 1893 (Long Branch) – 1967 (New York City)



Lady, if you'd slumber sound,
Keep your eyes upon the ground.
If you'd toss and turn at night,
Slip your glances left and right.
Would the mornings find you gay,
Never give your heart away.
Would they find you pale and sad,
Fling it to a whistling lad.
Ah, but when his pleadings burn,
Will you let my words return?
Will you lock your pretty lips,
And deny your finger-tips,
Veil away your tender eyes,
Just because some words were wise?
If he whistles low and clear
When the insistent moon is near
And the secret stars are known-
Will your heart be still your own
Just because some words were true? ...
Lady, I was told them, too!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
126

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 620
Words 120
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 20

Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker was an American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and eye for 20th-century urban foibles. more…

All Dorothy Parker poems | Dorothy Parker Books

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