e. e. cummings scorning the pomp of must and shall
For e. e. cummings, on his birthday:
my father moved through dooms of love through sames of am through haves of give, singing each morning out of each night my father moved through depths of height
this motionless forgetful where turned at his glance to shining here; that if(so timid air is firm) under his eyes would stir and squirm
newly as from unburied which floats the first who,his april touch drove sleeping selves to swarm their fates woke dreamers to their ghostly roots
and should some why completely weep my father's fingers brought her sleep: vainly no smallest voice might cry for he could feel the mountains grow.
Lifting the valleys of the sea my father moved through griefs of joy; praising a forehead called the moon singing desire into begin
joy was his song and joy so pure a heart of star by him could steer and pure so now and now so yes the wrists of twilight would rejoice
keen as midsummer's keen beyond conceiving mind of sun will stand, so strictly(over utmost him so hugely) stood my father's dream
his flesh was flesh his blood was blood: no hungry man but wished him food; no cripple wouldn't creep one mile uphill to only see him smile.
Scorning the Pomp of must and shall my father moved through dooms of feel; his anger was as right as rain his pity was as green as grain
septembering arms of year extend yes humbly wealth to foe and friend than he to foolish and to wise offered immeasurable is
proudly and(by octobering flame beckoned)as earth will downward climb, so naked for immortal work his shoulders marched against the dark
his sorrow was as true as bread: no liar looked him in the head; if every friend became his foe he'd laugh and build a world with snow.
My father moved through theys of we, singing each new leaf out of each tree (and every child was sure that spring danced when she heard my father sing)
then let men kill which cannot share, let blood and flesh be mud and mire, scheming imagine,passion willed, freedom a drug that's bought and sold
giving to steal and cruel kind, a heart to fear,to doubt a mind, to differ a disease of same, conform the pinnacle of am
though dull were all we taste as bright, bitter all utterly things sweet, maggoty minus and dumb death all we inherit,all bequeath
and nothing quite so least as truth --i say though hate were why men breathe-- because my Father lived his soul love is the whole and more than all
And here is a performance piece, by Lila Sakura, of cummings "Pity this busy monster, manunkind", that perfectly captures, um, today.
Just a quick note to suggest that E. E. Cummings' name be treated with the normal capitals. The lowercasing of his name was just something that his book designers did -- not Cummings himself. The policy and practice of the E. E. Cummings Society (I'm a longtime contributing editor to its journal Spring), Liveright (Cummings' publisher), and George Firmage (Cummings' literary executor, although recently deceased himself) is to treat the poet's name with initial capitals. Despite popular practice and perception, lowercasing his name is simply incorrect. For more information, please visit the definitive articles on the subject at http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps.htm and http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps2.html.
The myth of lowercasing E. E. Cummings' name is not unlike the myth of 5-7-5 syllables for English-language haiku. Too many people, even well-meaning poets and textbooks, have borrowed the number without thinking about what the number is counting. Yet people cling to their beliefs in odd ways, and perhaps lowercasing Cummings' name is similar. Or in some cases, they simply have heard anything to counter their beliefs. Please give the two essays I linked to a good read and give them a chance to shift your world just a little bit.
Glad you enjoyed the piece ... highlights some aspects of the poem nicely.
Michael, good to hear from you and thanks very much for this vital info. I will definitely head off to read the articles and will correct the errors once schooled. In fact this may be something to do a mid-week posting on as popular perception is, indeed, that all is lowercase. If I can help get the word out to even a few folks it has to be a help.
Very glad you like the blog ... your p.s. lifted me up.
Thanks for the comment, Don. There's a typo in my previous post. I meant to say "they simply HAVEN'T heard anything to counter their beliefs."
As for Cummings, his typographical and syntactical peculiarities came naturally to him. His tricks are very inventive, but they're not just tricks. Underneath them are some very beautiful love or nature poems, many many sonnets, and beautiful poems on individuality or valuing childlike innocence and other virtues. There's a lot of tradition under that innovation.
Thanks for the further info. Cummings is one of the poets that drew me to poetry when very young, I've read and cherish the complete poems. At the library where I work, we've just started a poetry discussion group and will be doing Cummings next month. We've used the incorrect lower spelling and I can't wait to share your info with the group.
Read your very moving haiku this morning on f/k/a. best, Don
That peformance piece is rather freaky. Captures chaos pretty well. Great poem.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note to suggest that E. E. Cummings' name be treated with the normal capitals. The lowercasing of his name was just something that his book designers did -- not Cummings himself. The policy and practice of the E. E. Cummings Society (I'm a longtime contributing editor to its journal Spring), Liveright (Cummings' publisher), and George Firmage (Cummings' literary executor, although recently deceased himself) is to treat the poet's name with initial capitals. Despite popular practice and perception, lowercasing his name is simply incorrect. For more information, please visit the definitive articles on the subject at http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps.htm and http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps2.html.
ReplyDeleteThe myth of lowercasing E. E. Cummings' name is not unlike the myth of 5-7-5 syllables for English-language haiku. Too many people, even well-meaning poets and textbooks, have borrowed the number without thinking about what the number is counting. Yet people cling to their beliefs in odd ways, and perhaps lowercasing Cummings' name is similar. Or in some cases, they simply have heard anything to counter their beliefs. Please give the two essays I linked to a good read and give them a chance to shift your world just a little bit.
Michael Dylan Welch
P.S. I enjoy reading your blog, Don!
ReplyDeleteCharles:
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the piece ... highlights some aspects of the poem nicely.
Michael, good to hear from you and thanks very much for this vital info. I will definitely head off to read the articles and will correct the errors once schooled. In fact this may be something to do a mid-week posting on as popular perception is, indeed, that all is lowercase. If I can help get the word out to even a few folks it has to be a help.
Very glad you like the blog ... your p.s. lifted me up.
best,
Don
Thanks for the comment, Don. There's a typo in my previous post. I meant to say "they simply HAVEN'T heard anything to counter their beliefs."
ReplyDeleteAs for Cummings, his typographical and syntactical peculiarities came naturally to him. His tricks are very inventive, but they're not just tricks. Underneath them are some very beautiful love or nature poems, many many sonnets, and beautiful poems on individuality or valuing childlike innocence and other virtues. There's a lot of tradition under that innovation.
Michael
Michael:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the further info. Cummings is one of the poets that drew me to poetry when very young, I've read and cherish the complete poems. At the library where I work, we've just started a poetry discussion group and will be doing Cummings next month. We've used the incorrect lower spelling and I can't wait to share your info with the group.
Read your very moving haiku this morning on f/k/a.
best,
Don