Enough Rope/Ballade of Big Plans

by Dorothy Parker

Ballade of Big Plans

She loved him. He knew it. And love was a game that two could play at.—“Julia Cane,” p. 280.

ONCE the orioles sang in chorus,
Once the skies were a cloudless blue.
Spring bore blossoms expressly for us,
Stars lined up to spell “Y-O-U.”
All the world wore a golden hue,
Life was a thing to be bold and gay at;
Love was the only game I knew,
And love is a game that two can play at.

Now the heavens are scowling o’er us,
Now the blossoms are pale and few.
Love was a rose with thorns that tore us,
Love was a ship without a crew.
Love is untender, and love is untrue,
Love is a moon for a dog to bay at,
Love is the Lady-That’s-Known-as-Lou,
And love is a game that two can play at.

Recollections can only bore us;
Now it’s over, and now it’s through.
Our day is dead as a dinosaurus.
Other the paths that you pursue.
What is the girl in the case to do?
What is she going to spend her day at?
Fun demands, at a minimum, two—
And love is a game that two can play at.

L’ENVOI:
Prince, I’m packing away the rue.
I’ll give them something to shout “Hooray” at.
I’ve got somebody else in view:
And love is a game that two can play at.

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