"Star Light, Star Bright--" Poem by Dorothy Parker

"Star Light, Star Bright--"

Rating: 3.5


Star, that gives a gracious dole,
What am I to choose?
Oh, will it be a shriven soul,
Or little buckled shoes?

Shall I wish a wedding-ring,
Bright and thin and round,
Or plead you send me covering-
A newly spaded mound?

Gentle beam, shall I implore
Gold, or sailing-ships,
Or beg I hate forevermore
A pair of lying lips?

Swing you low or high away,
Burn you hot or dim;
My only wish I dare not say-
Lest you should grant me him.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Patricia Grantham 09 January 2013

What a delicious poem! Oh so childlike but again a master of knowing what you want! How gracious. Very good poem

36 6 Reply
Amitava Sur 19 November 2014

A beautiful prayer, remaining timid and submissive, only with an intense wish ...... Lest you should grant me him. ... too good

29 9 Reply
John Richter 18 November 2014

Sounds like Dorothy knew what she wanted - but was at the same time fearful that she would be granted him. Perhaps it had something to do with the mention of a liar.... Miss Parker was an absolute pistol!

31 6 Reply
Cynthia Buhain-baello 29 June 2009

Great engaging style! Straight easy-to-read and definitely and enjoyable poem. Dorothy Parker's style is no frills style and she writes simply without prolixity and she does not make the reader try to find his way out of a literary maze of words. Real poetry!

31 4 Reply
Pranab K Chakraborty 18 November 2014

My only wish I dare not say- Lest you should grant me him..... Brilliant expression to expose the obsessive heart. Enjoyed.

30 4 Reply
Vanessa Baez 30 December 2020

I like the look of the updated site. It's very nice.

1 0 Reply
Shaun Cronick 05 December 2020

Dorothy Parker was a one of kind woman and poetess. An incredible imagination to project great rhyme and subject matter. Sometimes with a poetic, cutting edge satire and thank goodness for that. Thank you Dorothy Parker and sleep well. Sleep well.

3 0 Reply
Shaun Cronick 10 October 2020

Sleep well good Dorothy. Sleep well. For you were one of a kind. And thank you. You are Heaven's gain.

9 1 Reply
L Milton Hankins 15 September 2020

Another delightful poem. Dorothy Parker's work is among the best as far as I'm concerned.

3 2 Reply
Shaun Cronick 29 June 2020

A beautiful poem by the witty and acerbic but always brilliant Dorothy Parker. A poem displaying her feelings, hopes and desires also her feelings of a loss. A magnificent and brilliant woman of her time. Sleep well good Dorothy and thank you.

14 0 Reply
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Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker

Long Branch / New Jersey
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