anyone lived in a pretty how town

I just had to read this poem in American Lit, and thought that I should share it with you...


anyone lived in a pretty how town

by E. E. Cummings

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



This poem is very odd when first read, and it might not make any sense. But if you re-read it and think of "anyone" as a man, and "noone" as a woman who loved 'anyone', then it actually does make sense. Look for meaning in every word and phrase. Cummings liked to use the inverse of phrases... rather than using the common phrase "how pretty" to describe the town that anyone and noone lived in, he switched the words to "pretty how".
It's a simplistic poem with really deep meaning. :-)

Comments

Post a Comment

Hey. Thanks for reading my post, show some love by leaving a comment!

Popular posts from this blog

Not Much but Just Enough

It is so incredibly easy to lose sight of where you are in life.  One thing piles onto the next and all of a sudden you are swampped with a million things lined up in your datebook and a billion thoughts going through your mind.  Sometimes I get so overwhelemed in my own life and busyness that I lose track of all the great things God is doing for me.  As some of you may know, I quit my job at Giant Eagle to persue photography full time.  I can't really describe the feeling of peace I had about it when I made the decision; I just knew it was the right thing to do.  At first it was slow going and kind of discouraging, but over the last couple of months I have been able to make enough money solely through photography to support myself and all of my expenses.  It would be easy to stop at that and brag on myself and my accomplishments, but I truly am humbled by the fact that God would choose to bless my efforts to use the talent he gave me to make a living....
Read more

NO. I did not paint my shirt!

Ok, so I bought this shirt at American Eagle this past week, and thought it was cute. It's all white, with an iris on the front of it. I love it. It fits surprisingly well, but the only problem... people keep asking me if I painted the iris myself. My dad asked if I made my shirt. Hannah asked if I drew on it with markers. ITS ARTISTIC! But I didn't do it!!! I didn't draw the Eagle emblem either. Oh my gosh.... I am so annoyed! So the count down to Disney World begins... officially 6 days until we leave! As the trip ooches closer, our excitement becomes more uncontainable. I'm dying to go on the Rockin' Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and the Tower of Terror. Because it will be two of the littles' birthdays while we are there, we'll get to go to breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Goofy and Minnie... i think. We'll also get to see our friends the Krayzels!!! I am so excited about it. It will be great fun The Official Countdown... 6 days
Read more

2.0.1.2.

When the ball dropped at midnight this year it was different. 2012. A new year, a fresh start. New Years has always been magical to me for some reason. I guess it's just the thought that maybe this year will be better than the last - it's a time for reflection and assessment. I do it without even realizing it. It's like a much needed restart after getting through the busyness of the holidays; all the visiting, shopping, cooking, preparing. For some it's exciting, for others its a yearly struggle. New Years is like pressing the fast forward button to a new chapter. Life comes to a halt suddenly, we flip the page, and keep moving. It's such a lovely feeling. Everyone talks about resolutions. "In 2012 I will [_____]." Get healthy, go to church, blog every day, write in my journal, read my Bible daily. Fill in the blank with whatever your resolution may be. But after the first two weeks burnout happens and we revert back to how we were at the end...
Read more