6.25.2026 – daily dawns – summer

daily dawns – summer,
winter, spring, and fall — I’m a
fool to rise at all!

Daily dawns another day;
I must up, to make my way.
Though I dress and drink and eat,
Move my fingers and my feet,
Learn a little, here and there,
Weep and laugh and sweat and swear,
Hear a song, or watch a stage,
Leave some words upon a page,
Claim a foe, or hail a friend—
Bed awaits me at the end.

Though I go in pride and strength,
I’ll come back to bed at length.
Though I walk in blinded woe,
Back to bed I’m bound to go.
High my heart, or bowed my head,
All my days but lead to bed.
Up, and out, and on; and then
Ever back to bed again,
Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall—
I’m a fool to rise at all!

Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom by Dorothy Parker as published in Enough Rope (New York: Boni & Liveright, 1926).

This from the woman who famously would yell What Fresh Hell is This? anytime the phone rang.

Try that at work some day, I betcha!

High my heart, or bowed my head.

All my days but lead to bed.

I just wish I wouldn’t start thinking about it an hour after I get to work.

I mean, if I went right home and went to bed when I wanted to, I would miss my after dinner nap.

I start looking forward to that as soon as I get up each day.