Sunset Gun: Poems

by Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker ( 1893 to 1967) was an American poet and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table. Following the breakup of the circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left wing politics led to a place on the infamous Hollywood blacklist. Parker went through three marriages (two to the same man) and survived several suicide attempts, but grew increasingly dependent on alcohol. Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a "wisecracker". Nevertheless, her literary output and reputation for her sharp wit have endured. She sold her first poem to Vanity Fair magazine in 1914 and, some months later, she was hired as an editorial assistant for another Condé Nast magazine, Vogue. She moved to Vanity Fair as a staff writer following two years at Vogue. In 1917, married a Wall Street stock broker, Edwin Pond Parker II but they were separated by his army service in World War I. She had ambivalent feelings about her Jewish heritage given the strong antisemitism of that era and joked that she married to escape her name. In the 1920s alone she published some 300 poems and free verses in outlets including the aforementioned Vanity Fair, Vogue, "The Conning Tower" and The New Yorker along with Life, McCall's and The New Republic. She published her first volume of poetry, Enough Rope, a collection of previously published work along with new material in 1926. The collection sold 47,000 copies]and garnered impressive reviews. The Nation described her verse as "caked with a salty humor, rough with splinters of disillusion, and tarred with a bright black authenticity."

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Humor

75 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Dorothy Parker was an American writer, poet and critic best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table. Following the breakup of the circle, Parker traveled to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting. Her successes there, including two Academy Award nominations, were curtailed as her involvement in left-wing politics led to a place on the Hollywood blacklist.
Dismissive of her own talents, she deplored her reputation as a "wisecracker." Nevertheless, her literary output and reputation for her sharp wit have endured.

Reviews

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interior
Her mind lives in a quiet room,
A narrow room, and tall,
With pretty lamps to quench the gloom
And mottoes on the wall.

There all the things are waxen neat
And set in decorous lines;
And there are posies, round and sweet,
And little, straightened vines.

Her mind lives tidily, apart
From cold and noise and pain,
And bolts the door against her heart,
Out wailing in the rain.

Poet, writer, critic and mostly sharp. That's Dorothy Parker (1893-1967). This is the first time I read her poetry and I'm completely fascinated. How could you not after reading the first lines of "Coda"? There's little in taking or giving, / There's little in water or wine; / This living, this living, this living / Was never a project of mine.
The title of this collection is so fitting, for these poems are stunning as a sunset and lethal as a gun - though poems like "Frustration" makes me think she just wants a gun to use at sunset. But for now it's probably best to keep a more poetic approach.

The Homebody
There still are kindly things for me to know,
Who am afraid to dream, afraid to feel-
This little chair of scrubbed and sturdy deal,
This easy book, this fire, sedate and slow.
And I shall stay with them, nor cry the woe
Of wounds across my breast that do not heal;
Nor wish that Beauty drew a duller steel,
Since I am sworn to meet her as a foe.

It may be, when the devil's own time is done,
That I shall hear the dropping of the rain
At midnight, and lie quiet in my bed;
Or stretch and straighten to the yellow sun;
Or face the turning tree, and have no pain;
So shall I learn at last my heart is dead.

Verses about love found and naturally lost, people as passengers coming and going, the role of a woman in a limited world; ambivalence and indecision that comfort us so on the road to nowhere - they all brim with Parker's compassionate ways and caustic wit. A sense of humor which delights the random listener, may wound the receiver and becomes a tragicomic anecdote with the passage of time. Sometimes, a lot of time.

Surprise
My heart went fluttering with fear
Lest you should go, and leave me here
To beat my breast and rock my head
And stretch me sleepless on my bed.
Ah, clear they see and true they say
That one shall weep, and one shall stray
For such is Love's unvarying law...
I never thought, I never saw
That I should be the first to go;
How pleasant that it happened so!

Then you see, under the sun and moon
It all comes down to one afternoon.


May 13, 19
* Later on my blog.

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suave, fun, witty, quotable, re-quotable, and written with great gusto and genuine emotion, Dorothy Parker's poems of verse are just so lovable and always such a joy to read! This short collection was my third Parker book of poems, and it left me beaming!

Dorothy Parker! I raise a glass to you!

I picked out three of my faves -

FULFILMENT

For this my mother wrapped me warm,
And called me home against the storm,
And coaxed my infant nights to quiet,
And gave me roughage in my diet,
And tucked me in my bed at eight,
And clipped my hair, and marked my weight,
And watched me as I sat and stood:
That I might grow to womanhood
To hear a whistle and drop my wits
And break my heart to clattering bits.

DILEMMA

If I were mild and I were sweet,
And laid my heart before your feet,
And took my dearest thoughts to you,
And hailed your easy lines as true;
Were I to murmur "Yes" and then
"How true my dear" and "Yes" again,
And wear my eyes discreetly down,
And tremble whitely at your frown,
And keep my words unquestioning,
My love, you'd run like anything!

Shall I be frail and I be mad,
And share my heart with every lad,
But beat my head against the floor
What times you wondered past my door;
Were I to doubt, and I to sneer,
And shriek "Farewell!"and still be hear,
And break your joy, and quench your trust,
I should not see you for the dust!

BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

I think, no matter where you stray,
That I shall go with you a way.
Tough you may wander sweeter lands,
You will not soon forget my hands,
Not yet the way I held my head,
Nor all the tremulous things I said.
You still will see me, small and white
And smiling, in the secret night,
And feel my arms about you when
The day comes fluttering back again.
I think, no matter where you be,
You'll hold me in your memory
And keep my image, there without me,
By telling later loves about me.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunset Gun: Poems by Dorothy Parker is my 3rd collection of poetry by American poet, screen writer, movie critic Parker. I say this every time, but here goes again as an intro to my review of a book of poetry. I don't always get poetry but I keep trying. I have enjoyed Parker's work, her humor, her take on life. This collection was no exception.

There is much about love and life in this collection, sometimes what seems a very negative view of both.
"Rhyme against Living

If wild my breast and sore my pride,
I bask in dreams of suicide;
If cool my heart and high my head,
I think, 'How lucky are the dead!"

But as you read through the collection, I think you find that when it comes to life, Dorothy prefers a wild, tempestuous life or love, rather than a calm, mild one. She loves adding a twist or an unsuspected ending to a train of thought. That makes you go... Oh yeah!

"Surprise

My heart went fluttering with fear
Lest you should go, and leave me here
To beat my breast and rock my head
And stretch me sleepless on my bed,
Ah, clear they see and true they say
that one shall weep, and one shall stray
For such is Love's unvarying law....
I never thought, I never saw
That I should be the first to go;
How pleasant that it happened so!"

I don't always get her thoughts, but it's fun trying to. She's definitely worth trying if you want to explore the world of poetry. (3.5 stars)

[Madeeha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lamenting love lost, dreams broken, the cycle of hope and inevitable disappointment, tears that follow and that vicious inner voice that laughs at you telling you that you should have known better... Cursing yourself because you know you're caught in an endless loop doomed to make the same mistakes again and again, and yet accepting it, because that incurable hope, that things will work out , is the only thing that makes life slightly more bearable, even if it leaves only pain behind.

Hope. Foolish, reckless, thrilling, disappointing hope. That's what most of her poetry is about. But instead of the usual flowery descriptions and romantic idealism, her writing is cynical and full of dry humor and quotable epigrams that insist on making you smile through the pain. Hers and yours.

Dorothy Parker is a must read for anyone who finds poetry boring. But don't take my word for it, here are a couple of my favorites from this book:

Interior

Her mind lives in a quiet room,
A narrow room, and tall,
With pretty lamps to quench the gloom
And mottoes on the wall.

There all the things are waxen neat
And set in decorous lines;
And there are posies, round and sweet,
And little, straightened vines.

Her mind lives tidily, apart
From cold and noise and pain,
And bolts the door against her heart,
Out wailing in the rain.
Dorothy Parker

The Red Dress

I always saw, I always said
If I were grown and free,
I'd have a gown of reddest red
As fine as you could see,

To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there'd be one to see me so
And flip the world away.

And he would be a gallant one,
With stars behind his eyes,
And hair like metal in the sun,
And lips too warm for lies.

I always saw us, gay and good,
High honored in the town.
Now I am grown to womanhood....
I have the silly gown.
Dorothy Parker

[Heather Putman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reignites my love for poetry. I want to inscribe my favorite quotes on my palm for quick-draw wit when the ideal situation arises. My fervent reading of Dorothy Parker continues.

[Kate Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, reading Dorothy Parker is like catching a familiar face in a crowded room.
I grow suspicious whenever I spend time with her - how could a woman never knew, be tethered so close to the things I think and feel? It truly feels spiritual.

I began my DP journey with Enough Rope. I’d have to pick it up again to properly compare the two, but even without doing so, I feel just as seen in this collection as the last.

I can’t tell if she’s ahead of her time, or just has a finger on the pulse of the inner workings of this world. I think it’s both.

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

my sister got me a “ladies of literature” calendar for Christmas and I decided to make an effort to read one book or collection from each author on the month they appear

January was Dorothy Parker, who I didn’t know of before the calendar, and I chose this collection of her poems. I am not usually one for poetry, but Parker has a reputation for a quick wit and sharp tongue, which was so evident throughout this collection

Funny, delightful little read for January that got me far out of my comfort zone in terms of typical genres!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my primo fave of her collected poems. I have (what appears to be) the exact copy as shown in the pic. I collect her books for sport but the potent moxie with which Parker dishes it out is accessible to all. I will forever be improved and soothed by her.

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew that Dorothy Parker was one of the leading lights of the Algonquin Round Table and a legendary writer for publications in the 1920s, but I only really gave her prize serious consideration. The fault is mine; her poetry's pretty good, too. "Sunset Gun: Light Verse" is full of playful, arch, and witty poems, many of them as pithy as her best lines from real life. Reading this after finishing two heavy books ("In a Lonely Place", "The Zone of Interest") is a great palate cleanser, and the book is quite funny. If you like verse with wit, you owe it to yourself to pick up this slim, wickedly funny volume.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book of poetry I've ever finished.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Dorothy Parker and these poems are great. I wish she had been born 100 years later than she was.

[Rose Bae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a copy from like the 40s at Powell's in Portland, OR and I read it from cover to cover. I am not necessarily an avid poetry reader, but I love her sardonic wit and her ability to be funny and poignant at the same time. This particular set of poems are very realistic about the ups and downs of relationships. My favorite is called "Theory."

[Danielle Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 - Some beautiful poems within the collection that really struck a cord with me and some others which left me feeling unconcerned. Overall a mix between ones that I loved and ones I was not interested in.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an unhealthy obsession with Dorothy Parker;;

[Steve Shilstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wry and funny poetry of Dorothy Parker

[Nour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the poetic literary critiques, but again, a broken heart is required.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but sweet sample:

Two-Volume Novel

The sun's gone dim, and
The moon's turned black;
For I loved him, and
He didn't love back.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

watch for trouble walking
all along his course
stepping high and stalking
like a funeral horse

watch the gloom a-wheeling
black accross the sun
gibbering and squeeling
all the crows in one

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Parker as a person and writer. I also realize Parker's work can be clunky in consistency. It's been written this was likely due to her issues with mood and booze. This is a great example of chunkiness. There are far better volumes than this of her work. There are many sharp and insightful entries here. There are also ones that are not well though out.

The usual depression is written of mostly. This should not be read if in a bad mood.

I'll add: I'm tickled to have a 1928 first edition of this volume in my Parker library. Tucked inside, when i purchase, is a lengthy 1970 magazine article of Parker involving 'You Might as Well Live' by author John Keats.

Bottom line: i recommend this book. 5 out of ten points.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been passingly aware of Ms. Parker's association with the Algonquin Round table, but had never read anything from her until I picked up this, her second published book of poetry. It mostly consists of her skewering of people's search for love, which seems to be divided between her own youthful misconceptions, her tendency to continually make the wrong decision despite knowing better (falling for the bad boy was her weakness) and, of course, the many indiscretions of unfaithful men. There is a touch of admiration for suicide, which is off-putting. Throughout it all, though, is a stream of acerbic wit that she was known for.

[Hallie Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve read some of dorothy parker before this but this was my first collection by her. i adore her. i now have an answer to the question “if you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?” she is so witty, so hilarious, so striking. she makes this writing seem so effortless. she talks about suicide, the troubles of love and dating, writing, being a woman, all with such humor and sardonicism and she does it so well. it’s just so fun and so well done. i adore her. sooo many of her quotes are so iconic. she also was fiercely anti-fascist. i can’t wait to read more of her work; i’m borrowing Enough Rope immediately.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it a four just because a lot of the poems, though witty failed to be simpatico with me. Appraising poetry is emotional to me as I don't judge by critical assessment of the quality of it. It's a totally subjective rating.
It's a bon mot source. Lots of wry wit. A lot on romantic/sexual relations between males and females.
I liked Surprise, Frustration, Interior, The Homebody. Also good were Partial comfort, The Red Dress, Bric A Brac, The Second Oldest Tale, Penelope, Thought for a Sunshiney Day, Second Love, The Whistling Girl, Dilemma, Superfluous Advice, Rhyme Against Living, For A Lady Who Must and Healed.

[Paolo Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dorothy Parker. Her poems, essays and short stories are always so wonderfully written and funny. I keep a copy of the Portable Dorothy Parker on my bedside table, and can flip to any page at any time and know I'll read something great.

Favourite poems from this book include Afternoon and Frustration. Favourite poem not in this book is Resume.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem...

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandmother was a light-verse poet, and Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash were her models. It's lucky for us (although perhaps not for Parker?) that Parker's two suicide attempts failed and she made acid witty art out of her own misery until a heart attack relieved her of it at 73. "Sunset Guns" means just what you think it does in that context.

[Melody Hession-Sigmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun! A few too many poems about heartbreak, but not too many that I didn't find some new favorite poems. Definitely has a lot of depth too, as she treads on and around her own perceived inabilities to live up to an idealized femininity.

[Shannon Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This light verse has convinced me that I need to dive deeper into poetry! Parker is a brilliant writer and this collection is a beautiful balance of dark and comedic. I will definitely be reading more by her!

[Alfonso Gaitan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's very little variation in the verse structure or rhyme scheme, which can lead to some of the poems coming off as dull. However, the simplicity along with Parker's humor makes it a very accessible and quick read.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the poems rhyme; all of them are quite witty and funny. However, there's a thread of melancholy for love lost and unrequited (as well as suicidal ideation) that runs through the whole collection that tempers that wit and humor and creates a sense of deep discontent in the speakers of the poems.

[Casian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75
So good, really funny and then she hits you with the oh.. I’m sad now. Overall not as good imo as enough rope, but still an absolute banger.
Favourite poem(s): Pour Prendere Congé and Coda

[Heidi Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treasure!