Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom

Dorothy Parker 1893 (Long Branch) – 1967 (New York City)



Daily dawns another day;
I must up, to make my way.
Though I dress and drink and eat,
Move my fingers and my feet,
Learn a little, here and there,
Weep and laugh and sweat and swear,
Hear a song, or watch a stage,
Leave some words upon a page,
Claim a foe, or hail a friend-
Bed awaits me at the end.

Though I go in pride and strength,
I'll come back to bed at length.
Though I walk in blinded woe,
Back to bed I'm bound to go.
High my heart, or bowed my head,
All my days but lead to bed.
Up, and out, and on; and then
Ever back to bed again,
Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall-
I'm a fool to rise at all!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 24, 2023

39 sec read
154

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDDEE FFGGHHIIJJ
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 593
Words 130
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 10, 10

Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker was an American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist, best known for her wit, wisecracks, and eye for 20th-century urban foibles. more…

All Dorothy Parker poems | Dorothy Parker Books

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