There's been no e.e. cummings on this forum, so . . .

[andyfox]

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes

women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

-e.e.cummings

I'll leave it for John Cole to elaborate.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Very nice. As freshman in college I wrote a paper comparing this to Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Mr. Flood's Party"

[MMMMMM]

That's an enjoyable poem; light, quite creative, and pretty good. The poem can also be taken quite seriously in a sense. Nice again to see you enjoying poetry, andy, and to take the topics off all the heavy stuff;-)

John, I have not been able to find the poem "The Snowman" which you recommended. Googled it but no luck on several occasions. What was the author's name again? (although I think I googled his name too back when). By the way, "Desert Places" still runs through my mind on occasion while driving--also, I find I am acquiring more of a taste for Frost.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Funny, but "light" is not a word I'd use to characterize this poem.

[MMMMMM]

Why not? It's both light and serious.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

The meter is light, the tone is serious. cummings was a master.

[MMMMMM]

well...I don't see there necessarily being a conflict between lightness and seriousness. A greatness of the poem is that he juxtaposes the two in such a way that highlights the seriousness and lightness against each other, and he also does this with the vast universality of the human experience and the individuality of the human experience. The contrast is quite poignant. Everyone goes through the same individual path (so to speak), and the cycle continues.

I have not read a great deal of cummings, but I must say, to be perfectly honest, that from what I have read I feel hesitant to agree that cummings is a master. Keats, Shelley, Longfellow, Burns, Wordsworth, Frost--they were masters. cummings is good but I don't feel that he was in the same league at all.

[Zeno]

may I feel said he

may I feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she

(let's go said he
not too far said she
what's too far said he
where you are said she)

may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she

may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you're willing said he
(but you're killing said she

but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she

(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she

(cccome? said he
ummm said she)
you're divine!said he
(you're Mine said she)

[andyfox]

I should have known you'd like this one. Kind of an x-rated Ogden Nash ("what's too far . . . where you are").

The last line is wonderful.

[Phat Mack]

she being Brand

-new;and you
know consequently a
little stiff i was
careful of her and(having

thoroughly oiled the universal
joint tested my gas felt of
her radiator made sure her springs were O.

K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her

up,slipped the
clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she
kicked what
the hell)next
minute i was back in neutral tried and

again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my

lev-er Right-
oh and her gears being in
A 1 shape passed
from low through
second-in-to-high like
greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity

avenue i touched the accelerator and give

her the juice,good

(it

was the first ride and believe i we was
happy to see how nice she acted right up to
the last minute coming back down by the Public
Gardens i slammed on

the
internalexpanding
&
externalcontracting
brakes Bothatonce and

brought allofher tremB
-ling
to a:dead.

stand-
;Still)