Poetry Thursday - The Satin Dress by Dorothy Parker

1952 edition, paperback published 1965

The Satin Dress

Needle, needle, dip and dart,
Thrusting up and down,
Where's the man could ease a heart
Like a satin gown?

See the stitches curve and crawl
Round the cunning seams-
Patterns thin and sweet and small
As a lady's dreams.

Wantons go in bright brocade;
Brides in organdie;
Gingham's for the plighted maid;
Satin's for the free!

Wool's to line a miser's chest;
Crepe's to calm the old;
Velvet hides an empty breast
Satin's for the bold!

Lawn is for a bishop's yoke;
Linen's for a nun;
Satin is for wiser folk-
Would the dress were done!

Satin glows in candlelight-
Satin's for the proud!
They will say who watch at night,
"What a fine shroud!" 

- Dorothy Parker (via)

The pages somewhat yellowed by time

"Here is the cream of Dorothy Parker's works, both her poems and short stories. Included are the serious sonnets, the engagingly romantic pieces with a satirical kick in the tail, the spiteful little squibs about the defects of men; and her tales, from the agonizing and well-known 'A Telephone Call' to the more optimistic 'A Lovely Leave'. Available for the first time in paperback, this is the first edition of er writings to appear [in the UK] for many years."