The Veteran

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



When I was young and bold and strong,
Oh, right was right, and wrong was wrong!
My plume on high, my flag unfurled,
I rode away to right the world.
"Come out, you dogs, and fight!" said I,
And wept there was but once to die.

But I am old; and good and bad
Are woven in a crazy plaid.
I sit and say, "The world is so;
And he is wise who lets it go.
A battle lost, a battle won-
The difference is small, my son."

Inertia rides and riddles me;
The which is called Philosophy.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

30 sec read
481

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCC DDEEFF GG
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 467
Words 102
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 2

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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