i am a little church - A poem by e.e. cummings

Comment 9 of 9, added on November 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 AM.

I think this poem is about simplicity and humility. It doesn't matter whether one is rich or poor, if one has a little more than their neighbor one tends to feel like a "cathedral," but being a "little church" is what really matters. I think being a "little church" means being able to let go of material things even when we still have them but rather appreciate our friends and family's value even more.

Lupe Romero from United States

Comment 8 of 9, added on October 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 PM.

I have been on a quest about my faith for the past two years. I've been in a "dark stage" walking like a toddler with my arms outstretched, leaning on to things as I go along, trying to find my way without falling so hard that it hurts. This poem was part of my walk...I was so inspired by the words that I traveled to Madison to take a picture of the actual church and stand in the same spot he stood. The story behind this poem is that he was traveling with his wife down the road at the end of WWII. He was not a Christian, brought up in a Unitarian home, however, the light illuminating from the church windows and the collection of the people at the church finding out that the war had ended was enough to draw his attention and cause him to pull over to the side of the road to find out what was going on. What strikes me about this poem is that even those who do not believe in Christ cannot deny His power. (I also noticed the only capitalization was reference to Him.) The power and pull that this little church in small Madison NH had on Cummings also inspired him to write this poem indicating his knowledge and acceptance of the power that a small church has on a little community. The last two lines are striking for me....standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence (welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)....while I have been in "His darkness", I wonder, if he too felt the yearning to understand Christ more...to walk with him and earnestly believe.

Valerie Leuchter from United States

Comment 7 of 9, added on March 24th, 2008 at 9:37 PM.

I believe with all my heart that this poem is about self, and is one of his most moving works. Self, at peace with the world, and full of faith.

Jill Brooks from United States

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