Life, 1922-03-09 · page 5 of 34
Life — March 9, 1922 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Parker's satirical poem mocking optimistic platitudes about life. The poem ironically celebrates clichéd wisdom ("Everything's great, in this good old world") while parenthetical asides reveal harsh realities: poverty ("provide for the baby's shoes"), hunger and war, and financial struggle ("pay your bills"). The accompanying illustration shows two children gazing out a window at what appears to be a bleak landscape, with one saying "Come on, Kitty—I'll race ye." The image's starkness contrasts with the poem's surface cheerfulness, reinforcing Parker's biting critique of false optimism used to pacify the struggling poor during difficult economic times—likely the Great Depression era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Far-Sighted Muse Dorothy Parker ARK though the clouds, they are silver-lined; D (This is the stuff that they like to read.) (This is the stuff that will bring in gold.) If Winter comes, Spring is right behind; Just to be living’s a perfect treat; (This is the stuff that the people need.) (This is the stuff that will knock them cold.) Smile, and the World will smile back at you; How could we, any of us, be sad ?— Aim with a grin, and you cannot miss; Always our blessings outweigh our ills; Laugh off your woes, and you won't feel blue. Always there’s something to make us glad. (Poetry pays when it’s done like this.) (This is the way you can pay your bills.) Whatever is, is completely sweet; Everything's great, in this good old world; (This is the stuff they can always use.) God's in His heaven, the hill’s dew-pearled; (This will provide for the baby’s shoes.) Hunger and War, do not mean a thing;— Everything's rosy, where’er we roam; Hark, how the little birds gaily sing! (This is what fetches the bacon home.) 2 Ye Z y 4 4 \ LSS SSNS on, Kitty—I'll race ye.” comicbooks.com