Coda [French translation]

There's little in taking or giving

There's little in water or wine

This living, this living, this living

Was never a project of mine

Oh, hard is the struggle, and sparse is

The gain of the one at the top

For art is a form of catharsis

And love is a permanent flop

And work is the province of cattle

And rest's for a clam in a shell

So I'm thinking of throwing the battle

Would you kindly direct me to hell?

• Artist:Dorothy Parker