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WITH A BOW TO DOROTHY PARKER


by Nonnie Augustine


WITH A BOW TO DOROTHY PARKER


When his fingers sped along the keys, 
I'd need to sit. I'd such weak knees. 
I thought him charming, tall, and able, 
then he overturned the table. 
Chili, crackers, cheddar cheese 
crashed on me-he'd been displeased. 
I screamed and sighed, cried and cried. 
To keep me home, he rhapsodized. 
He sweetly played a Chopin etude 
and cursed himself for being rude. 
I forgave him, (oh, yes) and took a bath, 
soaped off the food that sparked his wrath. 

We again enjoyed unwedded bliss 
as long as nothing went amiss. 
Light toast and eggs, once over easy, 
no cats or dogs--they made him sneezy. 
But it seemed to me that stray he might- 
sex had slowed to once a night. 
One day I woke up twenty-two,
in broody mood tinted navy blue. 
I'd found a note that he'd been smote
by the pulchritude of another.
Now I'm on my way to Santa Fe
to find without much bother
a man with flair in the western air.
Why not? A cowboy lover!
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