Life, 1922-04-13 · page 5 of 34
Life — April 13, 1922 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a poem titled "Rondeau Redoublé" by Dorothy Parker, expressing melancholy over a lost love. The accompanying illustration by F. R. Shaver depicts a chaotic scene of people in a horse-drawn carriage fleeing hastily across grassland. The cartoon's caption reads: "Keep them mustangs on the jump, pard, an' we'll make our getaway—another redskin has bit the dust." This reflects early 20th-century Wild West stereotypes, depicting a dramatic escape scene. The illustration appears designed to humorously contrast with Parker's romantic poem about heartbreak—juxtaposing sentimental verse with comedic action imagery typical of Life magazine's satirical approach to pairing art with literature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rondeau Redoublé (And scarcely worth the trouble, at that) T same to me are sombre days and gay. Though joyous dawns the rosy morn, and bright, Because my dearest love is gone away Within my heart is melancholy night. My heart beats slow in loneliness, despite That riotous Summer holds the earth in sway. In cerements my spirit is bedight; The same to me are sombre days and gay. Though breezes in the rippling grasses play, And ocean waves dash high in glorious might,— I no longer to the sparkling day, hough joyous dawns the rosy morn, and bright. Ungraceful seems to me the swallow’s flight; As well might Heaven’s blue be sullen gray; My soul discerns no beauty in the sight, Because my dearest love is gone away. Let roses fling afar their crimson spray, And virgin daisies splash the fields with white, Let bloom the poppy gaily as it may, Within my heart-is melancholy night. And this, oh love, my pitiable plight Whenever from my circling arms you stray; This little world of mine has lost its light... . I hope to God, my dear, that you can say The same to me. Dorothy Parker. “Keep them mustangs on the jump, pard, om, well make our getaway—another redskin has bit e dust. comicbooks.com