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Poet: e.e. cummings (e.e. cummings Art)
Poem: Thy fingers make early flowers of... (IV)
Comment 5 of 5, added on February 19th, 2007 at 4:37 PM.
I disagree with Jeff as well. Cummings is one of my favorite poets precisely because he breaks out of traditional form and syntax. I will admit that sometimes I think he takes his nonform too far, but usually, he seems to have good reason for abusing the rules of English grammar. I direct your attention to his poem "since feeling is first" which might explain why he often breaks away from our imposed and artificial rules of organization. E. E. Cummings is making the point that feelings are more real and important than strict, artificial human rules. Love often breaks the rules of human propriety, and thus, Cummings focuses on the feeling of the poem rather than the artificially-imposed "proper" structure. This particular poem, "Thy fingers make early flowers of," I think speaks again about love (or, more specifically, beauty) and its immortality. No matter how short life or love is ("though love be a day and life be nothing"), beauty lasts in love. This girl is perfect in the narrator's eyes and will always be so (notice that "Always" is one of the few capitalized words in the poem). The poem simply praises different parts of the girl (fingers, hair, feet, eyes, lips) which all remind the narrator of Spring, love, and happiness. There is a lot more to analyze about this poem, but I will leave the rest to interpretation. If you are more interested in stricter form, E. E. Cummings wrote a number of sonnets published in his book Tulips and Chimneys, so if you are honestly interested in understanding Cummings, I urge you to start with them. I also urge you not to immediately write off a poem as bad just because you don't understand it right away. First, try reading the poem quickly and see what general feeling you get from it. Then, try picking the poem apart, attempting to understand it phrase by phrase, and that may help you with the overall meaning. This poem is not simply a random jumble of words, so do not dismiss it as such without attempting to understand it. It also has plot, tone, attitude, and imagination, if you look well enough, and its lack of syntax was a conscious choice by the author to emphasize a point. Please explore more of Cummings if you think he writes only nonsense and perhaps you will begin to understand more of where he is coming from.
Stephanie from United States
Comment 4 of 5, added on February 8th, 2006 at 9:37 AM.
i disagree with you as well jEFF bUt i will take your advice and check out the other poetry to broaden my horizons. instead of being like some *cough,you cough* thanks
Daniel Clarke from United States
Comment 3 of 5, added on February 14th, 2005 at 4:27 PM.
I believe you are wrong, Mr. Jeff, the Buffalo Bill poem is one of my all time favorites. You ,however, must be reading it wrong because it makes perfectly sence to me.
Kat from United States
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Comments
I disagree with Jeff as well. Cummings is one of my favorite poets precisely because he breaks out of traditional form and syntax. I will admit that sometimes I think he takes his nonform too far, but usually, he seems to have good reason for abusing the rules of English grammar. I direct your attention to his poem "since feeling is first" which might explain why he often breaks away from our imposed and artificial rules of organization. E. E. Cummings is making the point that feelings are more real and important than strict, artificial human rules. Love often breaks the rules of human propriety, and thus, Cummings focuses on the feeling of the poem rather than the artificially-imposed "proper" structure. This particular poem, "Thy fingers make early flowers of," I think speaks again about love (or, more specifically, beauty) and its immortality. No matter how short life or love is ("though love be a day and life be nothing"), beauty lasts in love. This girl is perfect in the narrator's eyes and will always be so (notice that "Always" is one of the few capitalized words in the poem). The poem simply praises different parts of the girl (fingers, hair, feet, eyes, lips) which all remind the narrator of Spring, love, and happiness. There is a lot more to analyze about this poem, but I will leave the rest to interpretation. If you are more interested in stricter form, E. E. Cummings wrote a number of sonnets published in his book Tulips and Chimneys, so if you are honestly interested in understanding Cummings, I urge you to start with them. I also urge you not to immediately write off a poem as bad just because you don't understand it right away. First, try reading the poem quickly and see what general feeling you get from it. Then, try picking the poem apart, attempting to understand it phrase by phrase, and that may help you with the overall meaning. This poem is not simply a random jumble of words, so do not dismiss it as such without attempting to understand it. It also has plot, tone, attitude, and imagination, if you look well enough, and its lack of syntax was a conscious choice by the author to emphasize a point. Please explore more of Cummings if you think he writes only nonsense and perhaps you will begin to understand more of where he is coming from.
Stephanie from United States