The Trifler
Dorothy Parker 1893 (Long Branch) – 1967 (New York City)
Death's the lover that I'd be taking;
Wild and fickle and fierce is he.
Small's his care if my heart be breaking-
Gay young Death would have none of me.
Hear them clack of my haste to greet him!
No one other my mouth had kissed.
I had dressed me in silk to meet him-
False young Death would not hold the tryst.
Slow's the blood that was quick and stormy,
Smooth and cold is the bridal bed;
I must wait till he whistles for me-
Proud young Death would not turn his head.
I must wait till my breast is wilted.
I must wait till my back is bowed,
I must rock in the corner, jilted-
Death went galloping down the road.
Gone's my heart with a trifling rover.
Fine he was in the game he played-
Kissed, and promised, and threw me over,
And rode away with a prettier maid.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 07, 2023
- 47 sec read
- 135 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABAB CDCD BEBE FXFX GHGH |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 753 |
Words | 154 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
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"The Trifler" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/8270/the-trifler>.
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