Nocturne

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



Always I knew that it could not last
  (Gathering clouds, and the snowflakes flying),
Now it is part of the golden past
  (Darkening skies, and the night-wind sighing);
It is but cowardice to pretend.
  Cover with ashes our love's cold crater-
Always I've known that it had to end
  Sooner or later.

Always I knew it would come like this
  (Pattering rain, and the grasses springing),
Sweeter to you is a new love's kiss
  (Flickering sunshine, and young birds singing).
Gone are the raptures that once we knew,
  Now you are finding a new joy greater-
Well, I'll be doing the same thing, too,
  Sooner or later.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
118

Quick analysis:

Scheme ababcdcD ebebfdfD
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 605
Words 109
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 8

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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