Life — February 22, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Poet to a Modern Lady" - Life Magazine This page presents a poem by J.K.M. mocking romantic courtship in the modern era. The poet sarcastically addresses a "modern lady," suggesting that traditional romantic gestures—reading poetry, moonlit walks, literary allusions—have become obsolete. He questions how one can court a woman when "metaphors are going out of style" and "marriage is a thing of mathematics." The accompanying sketch shows a woman standing confidently while a man reclines on a bed, seemingly indifferent. The caption—"I don't care much for men, but I do perfectly adore to watch their reactions"—reinforces the satire: the modern woman is emotionally detached and amused by male behavior rather than moved by romance. The piece satirizes both changing gender dynamics and the perceived decline of romantic sentiment in contemporary society.