The almanac symbolizes the passing of time or life. As a result, it cannot help but point to death and bring forth tears. We see this alluded to with the child's drawing, as the man wears "tear like buttons" (29), symbolizing all that has passed. The almanac is crying but those tears are also nourishing in that they are preparing the child for the next phase in her life. The recurring tears point to the fact that death is not far for the grandmother. Here we see death hiding about in almost every aspect of the daily activities of life, reminding us that it is always around the corner. In "A Certain Lady," Dorothy Parker utilizes symbolism to make an ironic point. The symbols in this poem point to the traditional ones we associate with love and lovers. The poet tells her lover that she will "drink your rushing words with eager lips" (parker 2) and she will "laugh and marvel, rapturous-eyed" (6). These symbol seem to indicate an eagerness for this lover. The metaphor of the "thousand little deaths my heart has died" (8) is very telling, indicating how many times her lover has hurt her. The poet's tales of his lover's are "fresh adventurings" (14) for which she is to enjoy and she does not disappoint. These women and the "lingering hands, and gently whispered things" (16) are symbols of the time in which Parker lived. The twenties...
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