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Lindsay Ellis reads "The Danger of Writing Defiant Verse" by Dorothy Parker.

Brought to you by Complexly, The Poetry Foundation, and poet Paige Lewis. Learn more: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/

Lindsay Ellis:
https://www.youtube.com/user/chezapoctube
https://twitter.com/thelindsayellis

Dorothy Parker:
The Danger of Writing Defiant Verse by Dorothy Parker
Book: Complete Poems
Publisher: Penguin Random House

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Hi my name is Lindsay Ellis and I'm reading a poem called "The Danger of Writing Defiant Verse" by Dorothy Parker. Dorothy Parker is one of the great satirists and wits of the 21st century and an icon, and this is one of her love poems.

The Danger of Writing Defiant Verse

And I have another lad!  
No longer need you tell
How all my nights are slow and sad
For loving you too well.

His ways are not your wicked ways,
He's not the like of you.
He treads his path of reckoned days,
A sober man, and true.

They'll never see him in the town,
Another on his knee.
He'd cut his laden orchards down,
If that would pleasure me.

He'd give his blood to paint my lips
If I should wish them red.
He prays to touch my finger-tips
Or stroke my prideful head.

He never weaves a glinting lie,
Or brags the hearts he'll keep.
I have forgotten how to sigh--
Remembered how to sleep.

He's none to kiss away my mind--
A slower way is his.
Oh, Lord!  On reading this, I find
A silly lot he is.