Who was there had seen us
Wouldn’t bid him run?
Heavy lay between us
All our sires had done.

There he was, a-springing
Of a pious race,
Setting hags a-swinging
In a market-place;

Sowing turnips over
Where the poppies lay;
Looking past the clover,
Adding up the hay;

Shouting through the Spring song,
Clumping down the sod;
Toadying, in sing-song,
To a crabbed god.

There I was, that came of
Folk of mud and name-
I that had my name of
Them without a name.

Up and down a mountain
Streeled my silly stock;
Passing by a fountain,
Wringing at a rock;

Devil-gotten sinners,
Throwing back their heads,
Fiddling for their dinners,
Kissing for their beds.

Not a one had seen us
Wouldn’t help him flee.
Angry ran between us
Blood of him and me.

How shall I be mating
Who have looked above-
Living for a hating,
Dying of a love?

Analysis, meaning and summary of Dorothy Parker's poem The Dark Girl’s Rhyme

4 Comments

  1. Jack Mauro says:

    This comes rather late, but: it always seemed to me this reflects Parker’s dislike of her own Jewish background; here she translates it as merely a Bohemian strain. She jokingly always said she married Mr. Parker because he had “a nice, clean name”. Moreover, she once famously said, “I was just a little Jewish girl, trying to be cute.” This rhyme, I believe, both glamorizes and reflects her innate shame of her ethnicity.

  2. Angie says:

    You’ve probably already finished analyzing but in case you haven’t, the poem is about her and her love. He was “better than her” by society’s standards. The poem is her lamenting about how they could never really be together, partly because no one wanted them to be, and partially because she felt like she would never be good enough.

  3. dorothy says:

    Hi I am currently reading the portable dorothy parker and I am analyzing this poem. However, I am having a little trouble understanding it. Any help would be great. Thanks.

  4. SHARNI says:

    OMG what a great poem i love it you are awsome keep up the good work

    SHARNI

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