Dorothy Parker Rothschild
A Fairly Sad Tale
I think that I shall never know
Why I am thus, and I am so.
Around me, other girls inspire
In men the rush and roar of fire,
The sweet transparency of glass,
The tenderness of April grass,
The durability of granite;
But me- I don't know how to plan it.
The lads I've met in Cupid's deadlock
Were- shall we say?- born out of wedlock.
They broke my heart, they stilled my song,
And said they had to run along,
Explaining, so to sop my tears,
First came their parents or careers.
But ever does experience
Deny me wisdom, calm, and sense!
Though she's a fool who seeks to capture
The twenty-first fine, careless rapture,
I must go on, till ends my rope,
Who from my birth was cursed with hope.
A heart in half is chaste, archaic;
But mine resembles a mosaic-
The thing's become ridiculous!
Why am I so? Why am I thus?
Dorothy Parker Rothschild was a feminist, an outspoken social and political activist, and a respected intellectual. A writer for, among other publications, Vanity Fair, Parker’s voice changed the tone of poetry, prose and the music of her time.
Here are some still-popular quotes attributed to her:
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses."
"The only ism Hollywood believes in is plagiarism."
"I don't care what is written about me as long as it isn't true."
"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."
"Take care of luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."
"Sorrow is tranquility remembered in emotion"
"You can't teach an old dogma new tricks."
