Life — November 18, 1926 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Lines to a Girl's Head" This page contains a romantic poem titled "Lines to a Girl's Head," presented as satirical verse in Life magazine's humorous style. The poem is an extended love letter praising a woman's physical attributes—her hair, face, skin, and smile—with exaggerated, flowery language typical of Victorian romantic poetry. The satire appears to mock overly sentimental love poetry and the conventions of praising women's beauty through elaborate metaphors (hair "like Summer flowers," face "like a jewel"). The poem's escalating intensity and occasional self-aware admissions (she's "kinda mean at times") suggest mockery of both idealized romance and male devotion. This represents Life magazine's typical humor: gently ridiculing social conventions and romantic sentimentality through parody.