I cant help but making the comparison of Don Marquis to musician Tom Waits. They both have an intoxicated style, something
pure that allows them to make tough subjects laughable. They both have a certain edge to their character, rough and raspy,
with an "I dont give a fuck," (Tom Waits), attitude. In research I came across an odd connection between Don and Tom. Waits
has a quote "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy." This quote was inspired by a joke written
by Dorothy Parker whom wrote at the Herald Times just shortly after Marquis' death in 1936. Dorothy was noted to have read
all of Don's work and labeled him a "New York Icon," listing him as one of her strongest style influences in her writting.
Tom Waits is one of the few musicians who can incorporate deep messages in a tactful, humorous manner, flowing his melodies
and words in a very poetic free form way. Waits' lyrics and heavy hearted views of life are unquestionably Marquisesque.
A major component in both of their writing is the use of humanization of animals and inatimate objects to indirectly satirize
individuals and/or groups they found hateworthy. While Don Marquis uses Archy the cockroach to write his true thoughts, Tom
Waits assures listeners that the piano has been drinking and his necktie is asleep.
Tom Waits
While reading a number of pieces by Marquis, I realized that his specialty is his blunt delivery of practical wisdom. He
writes in such a casual, careless manner that what he says could almost be absorbed as a joke. Marquis was notorious for this
stating " If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you really make them think, they'll hate you."
He describes everyday ideas and words in a way that perfectly puts it into context with a splash of dry humor. In this
sense, one could say he shares characteristics with humorist Jack Handey, well known as a writer on SNL, whom reads his "deep
thoughts" in a section titled Deep Thoughts with Jack Handey
