2nd poem: "Braggart" by Dorothy Parker

[timepiececlock]

This is a poem I ran into ages ago, and its always reminded me of BTVS, particularly characters like Drusilla, Angelus, and Spike. I love the imagery of it, particularly the line "And you must go on breathing." The diction is stellar, and the meter and rhyme flow smoothly off the tongue. It's vivid and dark and I love it.



-Dorothy Parker-

"Braggart"


The days will rally, wreathing
Their crazy tarantelle;
And you must go on breathing,
But I'll be safe in hell.

Like January weather,
The years will bite and smart,
And pull your bones together
To wrap your chattering heart.

The pretty stuff you're made of
Will crack and crease and dry.
The thing you are afraid of
Will look from every eye.

You will go faltering after
The bright, imperious line,
And split your throat on laughter,
And burn your eyes with brine.

You will be frail and musty
With peering, furtive head,
Whilst I am young and lusty
Among the roaring dead.

Comments

a toast to living hard and dying young, it seems

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Isn't it though? I adore it. Each stanza has great quotable lines, though I think the second-to-last might be my favorite. I really want to know exactly what she means by "bright imperious line", though I guess it means a sort of horizon of ideal goals, a aristocratic lifestyle achievement or distinction.

And split your throat on laughter,
And burn your eyes with brine.

The imagery!



And you must go on breathing,
But I'll be safe in hell.

A fantastic set, right there. I would like to have poetry lines that cool someday. I've already decided that if I ever write a book that's either A) a murder mystery, or B) a vampire novel, I will absolutely title it Among The Roaring Dead. Honestly, lines that deserve to be stolen without apology.