Life — June 30, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Love Song" by Dorothy Parker - Life Magazine This page combines a melancholic poem with a satirical cartoon about horse racing. Parker's poem explores romantic uncertainty—wondering if a lover would remain faithful if separated, whether they'd forget you for others' attention. The cartoon below depicts a crowded racetrack scene where a man tells a woman: "I wish I knew what to bet on in the fifth." She replies: "Let's go down and ask one of the bookmakers." The joke plays on "betting" as both literal wagering on horses and metaphorical relationship risk. Just as he's uncertain about which horse to back, lovers face uncertainty about romantic commitments—echoing Parker's poem's themes of doubt and the gamble inherent in love and trust.