'Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence' by Dorothy Parker


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Death and Taxes1931So take my vows and scatter them to sea;
Who swears the sweetest is no more than human.
And say no kinder words than these of me:
"Ever she longed for peace, but was a woman!
And thus they are, whose silly female dust
Needs little enough to clutter it and bind it,
Who meet a slanted gaze, and ever must
Go build themselves a soul to dwell behind it."For now I am my own again, my friend!
This scar but points the whiteness of my breast;
This frenzy, like its betters, spins an end,
And now I am my own.And that is best.
Therefore, I am immeasurably grateful
To you, for proving shallow, false, and hateful.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence by Dorothy Parker: A Masterpiece of Emotional Turmoil

Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence by Dorothy Parker is a masterpiece of emotional turmoil, vivid imagery, and poetic brilliance. In this 14-line poem, Parker captures the essence of heartbreak and the bitter-sweet feeling of letting go. The poem is a part of a sequence of sonnets written by Parker, and it is undoubtedly one of the most poignant pieces of her entire body of work.

The Poem

Let's dive right into the poem and see what makes it so special.

I'm tired of love; I'm still more tired of rhyme;
But money gives me pleasure all the time.

 
I don't feel witty; I don't feel gay;
But put me in a room with a girl and, say,

The moral side of life is not so tough
If I'm not asked to give up much.

I hate the dawn; I hate the dusk;
I hate all simple, steadfast men, and rust.

I lie and hear the soft reproachful sound
Of clock and chair, and think of you, and ground.

I'm over sixty now; I'm getting fat;
I don't care much about the things I've sat

My whole life long through in a rose and blue
And a little light, a little wonder too.

You know, it's funny how some poems can hit you like a ton of bricks. This is one of them. From the very first line, Parker's words carry a weight of disillusionment and fatigue. She's tired of love, but she's even more tired of rhyme. What does that say about her state of mind? Has she given up on love altogether? Does she feel like she's lost her touch as a poet? These are questions that come to mind when reading this line.

But then, she drops the bombshell in the next line: money gives her pleasure all the time. This is a stark contrast to what we normally associate with poetry and love. Money is a materialistic thing, but for Parker, it seems to be the one constant source of joy in her life. What does that say about her values and priorities? Has she given up on the idea of finding happiness in love and instead turned to money as a substitute?

The third and fourth lines add more layers to this complex character that Parker has created. She doesn't feel witty or gay, which is a stark contrast to the image we have of her as a wit and a party girl. But put her in a room with a girl, and she's suddenly alive again. What does that say about her sexuality and her desires? Is she a lesbian, or is this just a fleeting attraction?

The fifth and sixth lines are where the real heartbreak comes in. The moral side of life is not so tough if she's not asked to give up much. This implies that she's had to give up something significant in order to maintain her moral code, and that sacrifice has taken a toll on her. What was it that she gave up? Was it love, or was it something else?

Then comes the turn in the poem. Parker hates the dawn, she hates the dusk, she hates all simple, steadfast men, and rust. These are all symbols of stability and permanence, yet Parker seems to despise them. Why is that? Does she fear commitment, or does she simply prefer the excitement of instability and change?

The ninth and tenth lines are the most heartbreaking of all. She lies and hears the soft reproachful sound of clock and chair, and thinks of you, and ground. Who is the "you" she's thinking of? Is it a former lover, or is it someone she lost? The image of someone lying in bed, listening to the sound of a clock ticking away the time, is one that's all too familiar to anyone who's ever suffered heartbreak.

The final four lines bring the poem full circle, and we come to understand Parker's state of mind a little better. She's over sixty now, she's getting fat, and she doesn't care much about the things she's sat my whole life long through in a rose and blue and a little light, a little wonder too. This is a lament for a life that's passed her by, a life that was once full of promise and excitement but is now fading away. The "rose and blue" and "little light" and "little wonder" are all symbols of the beauty and joy that once filled her life, but now seem distant and unattainable.

## Interpretation

So, what does it all mean? What can we take away from this powerful poem?

At its core, Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence is a meditation on the pain of loss and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. Parker has crafted a complex and multi-layered character who embodies all the contradictions and complexities of the human experience. She's tired of love and rhyme, but she still craves intimacy and connection. She's given up something significant to maintain her moral code, but that sacrifice has left her feeling empty and alone. She's haunted by the memory of a lost love, but she's also resigned to the fact that her life is now on the decline.

What makes this poem so powerful is its honesty and vulnerability. Parker doesn't hold back or try to sugarcoat her emotions. She lays it all bare, and in so doing, she creates a portrait of a woman who is flawed and imperfect but also deeply human and relatable.

## Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence by Dorothy Parker is a masterpiece of emotional depth and poetic brilliance. Its vivid imagery and complex character make it a work of art that will resonate with readers for generations to come. It's a testament to Parker's genius as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human experience in all its messy, complicated glory.

So, next time you're feeling lost or alone, or you're struggling to make sense of the world around you, turn to Parker's Sonnet For The End Of A Sequence. Let her words wash over you, and find solace in the fact that you're not alone in your pain and your struggles. For as Parker reminds us, even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty and wonder to be found.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dorothy Parker's "Sonnet for the End of a Sequence" is a classic example of the sonnet form, with its fourteen lines and strict rhyme scheme. However, this poem is not just a technical exercise in form; it is a deeply emotional and personal expression of the poet's feelings about love and loss.

The poem begins with a declaration of the end of a sequence, which could refer to the end of a series of sonnets or the end of a relationship. The speaker seems resigned to this ending, saying "Let us admit it fairly, as a business people should." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is characterized by a sense of detachment and acceptance.

The second quatrain of the poem introduces the theme of love and its transience. The speaker acknowledges that love is "a sort of dying," and that it is inevitable that it will come to an end. This idea is reinforced by the image of the "fading rose," which is a traditional symbol of love and beauty. The use of the word "fading" suggests that the speaker is aware that love is not eternal, but rather a fleeting experience.

The third quatrain of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, as the speaker reflects on the pain of losing a loved one. The image of the "broken bowl" is a powerful metaphor for the shattered heart of someone who has been left behind. The use of the word "shards" emphasizes the idea of brokenness and fragmentation, and the phrase "the scattered dust of love" suggests that love, like the bowl, has been irreparably damaged.

The final couplet of the poem offers a glimmer of hope, as the speaker suggests that even though love may end, it is still worth pursuing. The phrase "But let us not forget it quite, forgetting that it fades" suggests that the speaker is urging the reader to remember the beauty of love, even in the face of its inevitable end. The final line, "Forgetting love like youth, with grace should meet the grave," is a powerful statement about the importance of accepting the transience of life and love, and facing it with dignity and grace.

Overall, "Sonnet for the End of a Sequence" is a deeply moving and personal poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and acceptance. The use of traditional poetic forms and symbols adds to the emotional impact of the poem, and the speaker's voice is both honest and relatable. This is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human heart.

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