Classic Poetry Series

Edward Estlin Cummings

- poems -

Publication Date: 2004

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Publisher:

1(a... (a leaf falls on loneliness) 1(a le af fa ll

s) one l

iness

EdwardEstlinCummings

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all in green Allingreenwentmyloveriding onagreathorseofgold intothesilverdawn.

Fourleanhoundscrouchedlowandsmiling themerrydeerranbefore. Fleeterbetheythandappleddreams theswiftreddeer theredraredeer. Fourredroebuckatawhitewater thecruelbuglesangbefore. Hornathipwentmyloveriding ridingtheechodown intothesilverdawn.

Fourleanhoundscrouchedlowandsmiling thelevelmeadowsranbefore. Softerbetheythanslipperedsleep theleanlithedeer thefleetflowndeer. Fourfleetdoesatagoldvalley thefamishedarrowsangbefore. Bowatbeltwentmyloveriding ridingthemountaindown intothesilverdawn.

Fourleanhoundscrouchedlowandsmiling thesheerpeaksranbefore. Palerbetheythandauntingdeath thesleekslimdeer thetalltensedeer.

Fourtallstagsatthegreenmountain theluckyhuntersangbefore. Allingreenwentmyloveriding onagreathorseofgold intothesilverdawn.

Fourleanhoundscrouchedlowandsmiling myheartfelldeadbefore. EdwardEstlinCummings

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anyone lived in a pretty how town anyonelivedinaprettyhowtown (withupsofloatingmanybellsdown) springsummerautumnwinter hesanghisdidn'thedancedhisdid.

Womenandmen(bothlittleandsmall) caredforanyonenotatall theysowedtheirisn'ttheyreapedtheirsame sunmoonstarsrain childrenguessed(butonlyafew anddowntheyforgotasuptheygrew autumnwinterspringsummer) thatnoonelovedhimmorebymore whenbynowandtreebyleaf shelaughedhisjoyshecriedhisgrief birdbysnowandstirbystill anyone'sanywasalltoher

someonesmarriedtheireveryones laughedtheircryingsanddidtheirdance (sleepwakehopeandthen)they saidtheirneverstheyslepttheirdream

starsrainsunmoon (andonlythesnowcanbegintoexplain howchildrenareapttoforgettoremember withupsofloatingmanybellsdown) onedayanyonediediguess (andnoonestoopedtokisshisface) busyfolkburiedthemsidebyside littlebylittleandwasbywas

allbyallanddeepbydeep andmorebymoretheydreamtheirsleep nooneandanyoneearthbyapril withbyspiritandifbyyes. Womenandmen(bothdongandding) summerautumnwinterspring reapedtheirsowingandwenttheircame sunmoonstarsrain EdwardEstlinCummings

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Ballad of the Scholar's Lament WhenIhavestruggledthroughthreehundredyears ofRomanhistory,andhastenedo'er SomeFrenchplay-(thoughIhavemyprivatefears OfflunkingsorelywhenItakethefloor Inclass),-whenIhavesteepedmysoulingore AndGreek,andfiguredoverhalfaream WithAlgebra,whichIdo(not)adore, HowshallImanagetocomposeatheme? It'swellenoughtotalkofpoorandpeers, Andmunchthegoldenapples'shinycore, Andlayalotofheroesontheirbiers;WhilethegreatAlec,knockingdownascore, Takesouthishandkerchief,boohoo-ing,"More!"ButharshlyIawakenfrommydream, Tofindanew,-er,-privilege,-instore: HowshallImanagetocomposeatheme? AfterI'veswallowedpropheciesofseers, AndtrailedAeneasfromtheTrojanshore, LearnedhowAchilles,aftermanyjeers, OnpiggyAgamemnongottosore, AndheardhowHercules,Esq.,tore Around,andsweptanddustedwithastream, There'sonelastduty,-let'snotcallitbore,HowshallImanagetocomposeatheme? Envoi Ofwhatavailisallmymightylore? Ibeatmybreast,Itearmyhair,Iscream: "Behold,IhaveaHerculeanchore. HowshallImanagetocomposeatheme?" EdwardEstlinCummings

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Buffalo Bill BuffaloBill's defunct whousedto rideawatersmooth-silver stallion andbreakonetwothreefourfivepigeonsjustlikethat Jesus hewasahandsomeman andwhatIwanttoknowis howdoyoulikeyourblue-eyedboy MisterDeath EdwardEstlinCummings

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Fame Speaks Standforth,JohnKeats!Onearththouknew'stmenot; Steadfastthroughallthestormsofpassion,thou, Truetothymuse,andvirgintothyvow; Resigned,ifnamewithasheswereforgot, Sothouonearrowinthegoldhad'stshot! Ineverplacedmylaurelonthybrow, ButonthynameIcometolayitnow, Whenthyboneswitherintheearthlyplot. Fameismyname.Idwellamongtheclouds, Beingimmortal,andthewreathIbring ItselfisImmortality.Thesweets OfearthIknownot,morethepains,butwing Inmineownether,withthecrowndcrowds Bornofthecenturies.-Standforth,JohnKeats! EdwardEstlinCummings

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fl... (2) fl a tt ene dd reaml essn esse swa it sp i

t)(t he s e f

ooli shsh apes

ccocoucougcoughcoughi ngwithme nmoreo nthaninthe m

EdwardEstlinCummings

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I Am A Beggar Always iamabeggaralways whobegsinyourmind

(slightlysmiling,patient,unspeaking withasignonhis chest BLIND)yesi amthispersonofwhomsomehow youareneverwhollyrid(andwho doesnotaskformorethan justenoughdreamsto liveon) afterall,kid youmightaswell tosshimafewthoughts

alittlelovepreferably, anythingwhichyoucan't passoffonotherpeople:for instancea pluggedpromise-

thehewillmaybe(hearingsomething fallintohishat)gowandering afteritwithfingers;tillhaving

found whatwasthrownaway himself taptaptapsoutofyourbrain,hopes,life to(carefullyturninga corner)neverbotheryouanymore Anonymoussubmission.

EdwardEstlinCummings

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i carry your heart with me icarryyourheartwithme(icarryitin myheart)iamneverwithoutit(anywhere igoyougo,mydear;andwhateverisdone byonlymeisyourdoing,mydarling) ifear nofate(foryouaremyfate,mysweet)iwant noworld(forbeautifulyouaremyworld,mytrue) andit'syouarewhateveramoonhasalwaysmeant andwhateverasunwillalwayssingisyou

hereisthedeepestsecretnobodyknows (hereistherootoftherootandthebudofthebud andtheskyoftheskyofatreecalledlife;whichgrows higherthanthesoulcanhopeormindcanhide) andthisisthewonderthat'skeepingthestarsapart icarryyourheart(icarryitinmyheart) EdwardEstlinCummings

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i have found what you are like ihavefoundwhatyouarelike therain

(Whofeathersfrightenedfields withthesuperiordust-of-sleep.wields

easilythepaleclubofthewind andswirledjustlysoulsofflowerstrike theairinutterablecoolness deedsofgrenthrillinglight withthinned newfragileyellows lurchandpress --inthewoods which stutter and sing Andthecoolnessofyoursmileis stirringofbirdsbetweenmyarms;but ishouldratherthananything have(almostwhenhugenesswillshut quietly)almost, yourkiss EdwardEstlinCummings

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i like my body when it is with your ilikemybodywhenitiswithyour body.Itissoquitenewathing. Musclesbetterandnervesmore. ilikeyourbody.ilikewhatitdoes, ilikeitshows.iliketofeelthespine ofyourbodyanditsbones,andthetrembling -firm-smoothnessandwhichiwill againandagainandagain kiss,ilikekissingthisandthatofyou, ilike,slowlystrokingthe,shockingfuzz ofyourelectricfur,andwhat-is-itcomes overpartingflesh...Andeyesbiglove-crumbs, andpossiblyilikethethrill EdwardEstlinCummings ofundermeyousoquitenew

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i sing of Olaf glad and big isingofOlafgladandbig whosewarmestheartrecoiledatwar: aconscientiousobject-or hiswellbelovdcolonel(trig westpointermostsuccinctlybred) tookerringOlafsooninhand; but-thoughanhostofoverjoyed noncoms(firstknockingonthehead him)dothroughicywatersroll thathelplessnesswhichothersstroke withbrushesrecentlyemployed anentthismuddytoiletbowl, whilekindredintellectsevoke allegianceperbluntinstrumentsOlaf(beingtoallintents acorpseandwantinganyrag uponwhatGoduntohimgave) responds,withoutgettingannoyed "Iwillnotkissyourfuckingflag"

straightawaythesilverbirdlookedgrave (departinghurriedlytoshave) but-thoughallkindsofofficers (ayearningnation'sblueeyedpride) theirpassivepreydidkickandcurse untilforweartheirclarion voicesandbootsweremuchtheworse, andeggedthefirstclassprivateson hisrectumwickedlytotease bymeansofskillfullyapplied bayonetsroastedhotwithheatOlaf(uponwhatwereonceknees) doesalmostceaselesslyrepeat "thereissomeshitIwillnoteat" ourpresident,beingofwhich assertionsdulynotified threwtheyellowsonofabitch intoadungeon,wherehedied Christ(ofHismercyinfinite) ipraytosee;andOlaf,too

preponderatinglybecause unlessstatisticsliehewas morebravethanme:moreblondthanyou EdwardEstlinCummings

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If Iffreckleswerelovely,anddaywasnight, Andmeasleswereniceandaliewarn'talie, Lifewouldbedelight,Butthingscouldn'tgoright Forinsuchasadplight Iwouldn'tbeI. Ifearthwasheaven,andnowwashence, Andpastwaspresent,andfalsewastrue, Theremightbesomesense ButI'dbeinsuspense Foronsuchapretense Youwouldn'tbeyou.

Iffearwasplucky,andglobesweresquare, Anddirtwascleanlyandtearswereglee Thingswouldseemfair,Yetthey'dalldespair, Forifherewasthere Wewouldn'tbewe. EdwardEstlinCummings

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if everything happens that can't be done ifeverythinghappensthatcan'tbedone (andanything'srighter thanbooks couldplan) thestupidestteacherwillalmostguess (witharun skip aroundwegoyes) there'snothingassomethingasone

onehasn'tawhyorbecauseoralthough (andbudsknowbetter thanbooks don'tgrow) one'sanythingoldbeingeverythingnew (withawhat which aroundwecomewho) one'severyanythingso soworldisaleafsotreeisabough (andbirdssingsweeter thanbooks tellhow) sohereisawayandsoyourisamy (withadown up aroundagainfly) foreverwasnevertillnow

nowiloveyouandyouloveme (andbooksareshutter thanbooks canbe) anddeepinthehighthatdoesnothingbutfall (withashout each aroundwegoall) there'ssomebodycallingwho'swe we'reanythingbrighterthaneventhesun (we'reeverythinggreater thanbooks mightmean) we'reeveranythingmorethanbelieve (withaspin leap alivewe'realive) we'rewonderfulonetimesone EdwardEstlinCummings

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if i ifi oranybodydon't knowwhereitherhis

mynextmeal'scomingfrom isaytohellwiththat thatdoesn'tmatter(andif

hesheitoreverybodygetsa bellyfulwithout liftingmyfingerisaytohell withthati saythatdoesn'tmatter)but ifsomebody oryouarebeautifulor deeporgenerouswhat isayis

whistlethat singthatyellthatspell thatoutbig(biggerthancosmic rayswarearthquakesfamineortheex

princeofwhosesdivinginto awhatsestorescuemissnobody's probablyhandbag)becauseisaythat'snot

swell(getme)babenot(understandme)lousy kidthat'ssomethingelsemysweet(ifeelthat's true) EdwardEstlinCummings

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If I have made, my lady, intricate IfIhavemade,mylady,intricate imperfectvariousthingschieflywhichwrong youreyes(frailerthanmostdeepdreamsarefrail) songslessfirmthanyourbody'swhitestsong uponmymind-ifIhavefailedtosnare theglancetooshy-ifthroughmysingingslips theveryskillfulstrangenessofyoursmile thekeenprimevalsilenceofyourhair -lettheworldsay"hismostwisemusicstole nothingfromdeath"youwillonlycreate (whoaresoperfectlyalive)myshame: ladywhoseprofoundandfragilelips thesweetsmallclumsyfeetofAprilcame intotheraggedmeadowofmysoul. EdwardEstlinCummings

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if I should sleep with a lady called death... (III) ifIshouldsleepwithaladycalleddeath getanothermanwithfirmerlips` totakeyournewmouthinhisteeth (hipspumpingpleasureintohips). Seeinghowthelimphuddlingstring ofyoursmileoverhisbodysquirms kissingly,Iwillbringyoueveryspring handfulsoflittlenormalworms.

Dressdeftlyyourfleshinstupidstuffs, phrasetheimmenseweaponofyourhair. Understandingwhyhiseyelaughs, Iwillbringyoueveryyear somethingwhichisworththewhole, aninchofnothingforyoursoul. EdwardEstlinCummings

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in justinJustspringwhentheworldismudlusciousthelittle lameballoonman whistlesfarandwee andeddieandbillcome runningfrommarblesand piraciesandit'sspring

whentheworldispuddle-wonderful

thequeer oldballoonmanwhistles farandwee andbettyandisbelcomedancing fromhop-scotchandjump-ropeand it'sspring andthegoat-footed balloonManwhistles far and wee

EdwardEstlinCummings

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in spite of everything... inspiteofeverything whichbreathesandmoves,sinceDoom (withwhitelongesthands neateningeachcrease) willsmoothentirelyourminds -beforeleavingmyroom iturn,and(stooping throughthemorning)kiss thispillow,dear whereourheadslivedandwere. EdwardEstlinCummings

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in time of daffodils(who know intimeofdaffodils(whoknow thegoaloflivingistogrow) forgettingwhy,rememberhow

intimeoflilacswhoproclaim theaimofwakingistodream, rememberso(forgettingseem)

intimeofroses(whoamaze ournowandherewithparadise) forgettingif,rememberyes

intimeofallsweetthingsbeyond whatevermindmaycomprehend, rememberseek(forgettingfind)

andinamysterytobe (whentimefromtimeshallsetusfree) forgettingme,rememberme EdwardEstlinCummings

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it is at moments after I have dreamed itisatmomentsafterihavedreamed oftherareentertainmentofyoureyes, when(beingfooltofancy)ihavedeemed

withyourpeculiarmouthmyheartmadewise; atmomentswhentheglassydarknessholds

thegenuineapparitionofyoursmile (itwasthroughtearsalways)andsilencemoulds suchstrangenessaswasminealittlewhile; momentswhenmyoncemoreillustriousarms arefilledwithfascination,whenmybreast wearstheintolerantbrightnessofyourcharms: onepiercedmomentwhiterthantherest -turningfromthetremendouslieofsleep iwatchtherosesofthedaygrowdeep. EdwardEstlinCummings

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it may not always be so itmaynotalwaysbeso;andisay thatifyourlips,whichihaveloved,shouldtouch another's,andyourdearstrongfingersclutch hisheart,asmineintimenotfaraway; ifonanother'sfaceyoursweethairlay insuchasilenceasiknow,orsuch greatwrithingwordsas,utteringovermuch, standhelplesslybeforethespiritatbay; ifthisshouldbe,isayifthisshouldbe-youofmyheart,sendmealittleword; thatimaygountohim,andtakehishands, saying,Acceptallhappinessfromme. Thenshalliturnmyface,andhearonebird singterriblyafarinthelostlands. EdwardEstlinCummings

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l(a l(a le af fa ll

s) one l

iness

EdwardEstlinCummings

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maggie and milly and molly and may maggieandmillyandmollyandmay wentdowntothebeach(toplayoneday)

andmaggiediscoveredashellthatsang sosweetlyshecouldntrememberhertroubles,and millybefriendedastrandedstar whoseraysfivelanguidfingerswere;

andmollywaschasedbyahorriblething whichracedsidewayswhileblowingbubbles:and maycamehomewithasmoothroundstone assmallasaworldandaslargeasalone. Forwhateverwelose(likeayouorame) itsalwaysourselveswefindinthesea EdwardEstlinCummings

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may i feel said he mayifeelsaidhe (i'llsquealsaidshe justoncesaidhe) it'sfunsaidshe

(mayitouchsaidhe howmuchsaidshe alotsaidhe) whynotsaidshe

(let'sgosaidhe nottoofarsaidshe what'stoofarsaidhe whereyouaresaidshe) mayistaysaidhe whichwaysaidshe likethissaidhe ifyoukisssaidshe

mayimovesaidhe isitlovesaidshe) ifyou'rewillingsaidhe (butyou'rekillingsaidshe butit'slifesaidhe butyourwifesaidshe nowsaidhe) owsaidshe (tiptopsaidhe don'tstopsaidshe ohnosaidhe) goslowsaidshe

(cccome?saidhe ummmsaidshe) you'redivine!saidhe (youareMinesaidshe)

EdwardEstlinCummings

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my father moved through dooms of love myfathermovedthroughdoomsoflove throughsamesofamthroughhavesofgive, singingeachmorningoutofeachnight myfathermovedthroughdepthsofheight thismotionlessforgetfulwhere turnedathisglancetoshininghere; thatif(sotimidairisfirm) underhiseyeswouldstirandsquirm

newlyasfromunburiedwhich floatsthefirstwho,hisapriltouch drovesleepingselvestoswarmtheirfates wokedreamerstotheirghostlyroots andshouldsomewhycompletelyweep myfather'sfingersbroughthersleep: vainlynosmallestvoicemightcry forhecouldfeelthemountainsgrow.

Liftingthevalleysofthesea myfathermovedthroughgriefsofjoy; praisingaforeheadcalledthemoon singingdesireintobegin joywashissongandjoysopure aheartofstarbyhimcouldsteer andpuresonowandnowsoyes thewristsoftwilightwouldrejoice

keenasmidsummer'skeenbeyond conceivingmindofsunwillstand, sostrictly(overutmosthim sohugely)stoodmyfather'sdream

hisfleshwasfleshhisbloodwasblood: nohungrymanbutwishedhimfood; nocripplewouldn'tcreeponemile uphilltoonlyseehimsmile.

Scorningthepompofmustandshall myfathermovedthroughdoomsoffeel; hisangerwasasrightasrain hispitywasasgreenasgrain septemberingarmsofyearextend lesshumblywealthtofoeandfriend thanhetofoolishandtowise offeredimmeasurableis

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proudlyand(byoctoberingflame beckoned)asearthwilldownwardclimb,

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sonakedforimmortalwork hisshouldersmarchedagainstthedark

hissorrowwasastrueasbread: noliarlookedhiminthehead; ifeveryfriendbecamehisfoe he'dlaughandbuildaworldwithsnow.

Myfathermovedthroughtheysofwe, singingeachnewleafoutofeachtree (andeverychildwassurethatspring dancedwhensheheardmyfathersing) thenletmenkillwhichcannotshare, letbloodandfleshbemudandmire, schemingimagine,passionwilled, freedomadrugthat'sboughtandsold givingtostealandcruelkind, ahearttofear,todoubtamind, todifferadiseaseofsame, conformthepinnacleofam

thoughdullwereallwetasteasbright, bitterallutterlythingssweet, maggotyminusanddumbdeath allweinherit,allbequeath

andnothingquitesoleastastruth -isaythoughhatewerewhymenbreathebecausemyfatherlivedhissoul loveisthewholeandmorethanall EdwardEstlinCummings

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my love mylove thyhairisonekingdom thekingwhereofisdarkness thyforeheadisaflightofflowers thyheadisaquickforest filledwithsleepingbirds thybreastsareswarmsofwhitebees upontheboughofthybody thybodytomeisApril inthosearmpitsistheapproachofspring thythighsarewhitehorsesyokedtoachariot ofkings theyarethestrikingofagoodminstrel betweenthemisalwaysapleasantsong mylove thyheadisacasket ofthecooljewelofthymind thehairofthyheadisonewarrior innocentofdefeat thyhairuponthyshouldersisanarmy withvictoryandwithtrumpets thylegsarethetreesofdreaming whosefruitistheveryeatageofforgetfulness thylipsaresatrapsinscarlet inwhosekissisthecombiningsofkings thywrists areholy whicharethekeepersofthekeysofthyblood thyfeetuponthyanklesareflowersinvases ofsilver inthybeautyisthedilemmaofflutes thyeyesarethebetrayal ofbellscomprehendedthroughincense EdwardEstlinCummings

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my sweet old etcetera mysweetoldetcetera auntlucyduringtherecent

warcouldandwhat ismoredidtellyoujust whateverybodywasfighting for, mysister

Isabelcreatedhundreds (and hundreds)ofsocksnotto mentionfleaproofearwarmers etceterawristersetcetera,my motherhopedthat

iwoulddieetcetera bravelyofcoursemyfatherused tobecomehoarsetalkingabouthowitwas aprivilegeandifonlyhe couldmeanwhilemy selfetceteralayquietly inthedeepmudet

cetera (dreaming, et cetera,of Yoursmile eyeskneesandofyourEtcetera) EdwardEstlinCummings

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next to of course god america i nexttoofcoursegodamericai loveyoulandofthepilgrimsandsoforthoh saycanyouseebythedawnsearlymy countrytisofcenturiescomeandgo andarenomorewhatofitweshouldworry ineverylanguageevendeafanddumb thysonsacclaimyourgloriousnamebygorry byjingobygeebygoshbygum whytalkofbeautywhatcouldbemorebeautifulthantheseheroichappydead whorushedlikelionstotheroaringslaughter theydidnotstoptothinktheydiedinstead thenshallthevoiceoflibertybemute? Hespoke.Anddrankrapidlyaglassofwater EdwardEstlinCummings

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nobody loses all the time (X) nobodylosesallthetime ihadanunclenamed Solwhowasabornfailureand nearlyeverybodysaidheshouldhavegone intovaudevilleperhapsbecausemyUncleSolcould singMcCannHeWasADiveronXmasEvelikeHellItselfwhich mayormaynotaccountforthefactthatmyUncle Solindulgedinthatpossiblymostinexcusable ofalltouseahighfalootinphrase luxuriesthatisorto witfarmingandbe itneedlessly added myUncleSol'sfarm failedbecausethechickens atethevegetablesso myUncleSolhada chickenfarmtillthe skunksatethechickenswhen myUncleSol hadaskunkfarmbut theskunkscaughtcoldand diedso myUncleSolimitatedthe skunksinasubtlemanner

orbydrowninghimselfinthewatertank butsomebodywho'dgivenmyUndeSolaVictor Victrolaandrecordswhilehelivedpresentedto himupontheauspiciousoccasionofhisdeceasea scrumptiousnottomentionsplendiferousfuneralwith tallboysinblackglovesandflowersandeverythingand irememberweallcriedliketheMissouri whenmyUncleSol'scoffinlurchedbecause somebodypressedabutton (anddownwent myUncle Sol andstartedawormfarm) EdwardEstlinCummings

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o sweet spontaneous osweetspontaneous earthhowoftenhave the doting

fingersof prurientphilosopherspinched and poked thee ,hasthenaughtythumb ofscienceprodded thy

beauty.how oftenhavereligionstaken theeupontheirscraggyknees squeezingand

buffetingtheethatthoumightestconceive gods (but true totheincomparable couchofdeaththy rhythmic lover

thouanswerest themonlywith

spring)

EdwardEstlinCummings

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of Ever-Ever Land i speak (ofEver-EverLandispeak sweetmoronsgatherroun' whodoesnotdaretostandorsit maytakeitlyingdown) downwiththehumansoul andanythingelseuncanned foreveryonecarriescanopeners inEver-EverLand

(forEver-EverLandisaplace that'sassimpleassimplecanbe andwasbuiltthatwayonpurpose bysimplepeoplelikewe) downwithhellandheaven andallthereligiousfuss infinitypleasedourparents oneinchlooksgoodtous

(andEver-EverLandisaplace that'smeasuredandsafeandknown whereit'sluckytobeunlucky andthehitlerliesdownwiththecohn) downaboveallwithlove andeverythingperverse orwhichmakessomefeelmorebetter whenalloughttofeellessworse (butonlysamenessisnormal inEver-EverLand forabadcigarisawoman butaglandisonlyagland) EdwardEstlinCummings

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pity this busy monster, manunkind pitythisbusymonster,manunkind, not.Progressisacomfortabledisease: yourvictim(deathandlifesafelybeyond)

playswiththebignessofhislittleness ---electronsdeifyonerazorblade intoamountainrange;lensesextend unwishthroughcurvingwherewhentillunwish returnsonitsunself. Aworldofmade isnotaworldofborn---pitypoorflesh

andtrees,poorstarsandstones,butneverthis finespecimenofhypermagical ultraomnipotence.Wedoctorsknow ahopelesscaseif---listen:there'sahell ofagooduniversenextdoor;let'sgo EdwardEstlinCummings

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Poem 42 n n OthI

gcan s s

urPas

them y y

SteR

of s s

tilLnes EdwardEstlinCummings

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since feeling is first sincefeelingisfirst whopaysanyattention tothesyntaxofthings willneverwhollykissyou;

whollytobeafool whileSpringisintheworld

mybloodapproves, andkissesareabetterfate thanwisdom ladyiswearbyalltheflowers.Don'tcry -thebestgestureofmybrainislessthan youreyelids'flutterwhichsays weareforeachother:then laugh,leaningbackinmyarms forlife'snotaparagraph EdwardEstlinCummings

anddeathithinkisnoparenthesis

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Sometimes I Am Alive Because With sometimesiamalivebecausewith meheralerttreelikebodysleeps whichiwillfeelslowlysharpening becomingdistinctwithloveslowly, whoinmyshouldersinkssweetlyteeth untilweshallattaintheSpringsmelling intenselargetogethercolouredinstant themomentpleasantlyfrightful when,hermouthsuddenlyrising,wholly beginswithminefiercelytofool (andfrommythighswhichshrugandpant amurderingrainleapinglyreachestheupwardsingulardeepestflowerwhichshe carriesinagestureofherhips) EdwardEstlinCummings

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somewhere i have never travelled somewhereihavenevertravelled,gladlybeyond anyexperience,youreyeshavetheirsilence: inyourmostfrailgesturearethingswhichencloseme, orwhichicannottouchbecausetheyaretoonear yourslightestlookeasilywilluncloseme thoughihaveclosedmyselfasfingers, youopenalwayspetalbypetalmyselfasSpringopens (touchingskilfully,mysteriously)herfirstrose orifyourwishbetocloseme,iand mylifewillshutverybeautifully,suddenly, aswhentheheartofthisflowerimagines thesnowcarefullyeverywheredescending;

nothingwhichwearetoperceiveinthisworldequals thepowerofyourintensefragility:whosetexture compelsmewiththecolorofitscountries, renderingdeathandforeverwitheachbreathing (idonotknowwhatitisaboutyouthatcloses andopens;onlysomethinginmeunderstands thevoiceofyoureyesisdeeperthanallroses) nobody,noteventherain,hassuchsmallhands EdwardEstlinCummings

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Spring is like a perhaps hand Springislikeaperhapshand (whichcomescarefully outofNowhere)arranging awindow,intowhichpeoplelook(while peoplestare arrangingandchangingplacing carefullythereastrange thingandaknownthinghere)and changingeverythingcarefully springislikeaperhaps Handinawindow (carefullyto andfromovingNewand Oldthings,while peoplestarecarefully movingaperhaps fractionofflowerhereplacing aninchofairthere)and withoutbreakinganything. EdwardEstlinCummings

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there are so many tictoc... therearesomanytictoc clockseverywheretellingpeople whattoctictimeitisfor ticticinstancefivetocminutestoc pastsixtic Springisnotregulatedanddoes notgetoutofordernordo itshandsalittlejerkingmove overnumbersslowly wedonot winditupithasnoweights springswheelsinsideof itsslenderselfnoindeeddear nothingofthekind.

(So,whenkissSpringcomes we'llkisseachkissotheronkissthekiss lipsbecauseticclockstocdon'tmake atocticdifference tokisskissyouandto kissme) EdwardEstlinCummings

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this(let's remember)day died again and... this(let'sremember)daydiedagainand again;whosegolden,crimsondoomsconceive anoceaningabyssoforangedream largerthanskytimesearth:aflamebeyond soulimmemoriallyforeveringamandascollapsingthatgreymindbywave doomdisappeared,outofperhaps(whoknows?) eternityfloatedablossoming (whileanyonemightslowlycounttosoon) rose-didyouseeher?darling,didyou(kiss me)quicklycounttonever?youwerewrong (aseasilyasweforgetsomething) livingesttheimaginablemoon EdwardEstlinCummings

-thenallthewayfromperfectnowherecame

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what if a much of a which of a wind whatifamuchofawhichofawind givesthetruthtosummer'slie; bloodieswithdizzyingleavesthesun andyanksimmortalstarsawry? Blowkingtobeggarandqueentoseem (blowfriendtofiend:blowspacetotime) -whenskiesarehangedandoceansdrowned, thesinglesecretwillstillbeman

whatifakeenofaleanwindflays screaminghillswithsleetandsnow: stranglesvalleysbyropesofthing andstiflesforestsinwhiteago? Blowhopetoterror;blowseeingtoblind (blowpitytoenvyandsoultomind) -whoseheartsaremountains,rootsaretrees, it'stheyshallcryhellotothespring whatifadawnofadoomofadream bitesthisuniverseintwo, peelsforeveroutofhisgrave andsprinklesnowherewithmeandyou? Blowsoontoneverandnevertotwice (blowlifetoisn't:blowdeathtowas) -allnothing'sonlyourhugesthome; themostwhodie,themorewelive EdwardEstlinCummings

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when serpents bargain whenserpentsbargainfortherighttosquirm andthesunstrikestogainalivingwagewhenthornsregardtheirroseswithalarm andrainbowsareinsuredagainstoldage wheneverythrushmaysingnonewmoonin ifallscreech-owlshavenotokayedhisvoice -andanywavesignsonthedottedline orelseanoceaniscompelledtoclose whentheoakbegspermissionofthebirch tomakeanacorn-valleysaccusetheir mountainsofhavingaltitude-andmarch denouncesaprilasasaboteur thenwe'llbelieveinthatincredible unanimalmankind(andnotuntil) EdwardEstlinCummings

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Where's Madge then, Where'sMadgethen, Madgeandhermen? buriedwith Aliceinherhair, (butifyouasktherain he'llnottellwhere.)

beautymakesterms withtimeandhisworms, whenloveliness sayssweetlyYes towindandcold; andhowmuchearth isMadgeworth? Inquireoftheflowerthatswaysintheautumn shewillneverguess. butiknow myheartfelldeadbefore. EdwardEstlinCummings

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ygUDuh ygUDuh ydoan yunnuhstan

ydoano yunnuhstanddem yguduhged

yunnuhstandemdoidee yguduhgedriduh ydoanonudn LISNbudLISN dem gud am

lidlyelluhbas tudsweergoin duhSIVILEYEzum EdwardEstlinCummings

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Young Woman of Cambridge, "Gay"isthecaptivatingcognomenofaYoungWomanofcambridge, mass. towhomnobodyseemstohavementionedyeoldefreudianwish; whenicontemplateheruneyessafelyensconcedinthickglass youtryifweareagentlemannottothinkof(sh)

theworldrenownedinvestigatorofpapersailors--argonautaargo harmoniouslybeingwithhisprobablymostbrilliantpupilmated, letusnotdeemitmiraculousiftheir(sotospeak)offspringhasthatlargo appearanceofsomebodywhowashectocotyliferouslypropagated whenMissGtouchedn.y.ourskeletonsteppedfromhiscupboard gallantlyofferingtodemonstratethebiggestbestbusiestcity andpresentlyfoundhimselfrattlingforthatwellknownsuburb thebronx(enliveninganotherwisedeadsilencewithharmlessquips,out ofBriggsbyKitty)

arrivinginanexhaustedcondition,ipurchasedtwobagsoflukewarm peanuts withthedimewhichhermamahadgenerouslyprovided(despitecourteousprotestations) andofferingMissGayone(whichshepolitelyrefused)setoutgailyfor thehyenas suppressingmyfrankqualmsindeferencetohernotinobviousperturbations

unhappily,thedenizensofthezoowerethatdayinclinedtobeuncouthly erotic moreparticularlytheprimates--fromwhichwithdignitysquarefeet turnedabruptlyMissGayaway: "onthewhole"(ifyouwillpermitametaphorsavouringslightlyofthe demotic) MissGayhadnothingtosaytotheanimalsandtheanimalshadnothing tosaytoMissGay duringourreturnvoyage,mypensivecompaniondimlyremarltedsomethingabout"stuffed fauna"being"veryinteresting"...wealsodiscussedthepossibilityof rain... EdistantproximitytoaY.W.c.a.shesuddenlyluffed --thankingme;and(statingthatshehopedwemight"meetagain sometime")vanished,gunwaleawash.Ithereuponloosenedmycollar anddoveforthenearestl;surreptitiouslycogitating thedictumofanewenglandsculptor(welloninlife)rethehelenmoller dancers,whomheconsidered"elevating--thatis,ifdancingCANbeelevating"

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Miss(believeitor)GayisacertainYoungWomanunacquaintedwiththe libido andpursuingacourseofinstructionatradcliffecollege,cambridge,mass. itryifyouareagentlemannottosensesomethingunpocoputrido whenwecontemplateheruneyessafelyensconcedinthickglass

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EdwardEstlinCummings

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