Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)
Song in a Minor Key
1There's a place I know where the birds swing low,
2 And wayward vines go roaming,
3Where the lilacs nod, and a marble god
4 Is pale, in scented gloaming.
5And at sunset there comes a lady fair
6 Whose eyes are deep with yearning.
7By an old, old gate does the lady wait
8 Her own true love's returning.
9But the days go by, and the lilacs die,
10 And trembling birds seek cover;
11Yet the lady stands, with her long white hands
12 Held out to greet her lover.
13And it's there she'll stay till the shadowy day
14 A monument they grave her.
15She will always wait by the same old gate, --
16 The gate her true love gave her.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Enough Rope: Poems by Dorothy Parker (New York: Boni and Liveright, 1926): 107. PS 3531 A5855E5 Robarts Library
First publication date:
5
October
1922
Publication date note: Life (Oct. 5, 1922): 7.
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1999.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/6
Rhyme: abcbdefe
Other poems by Dorothy Parker
