it is at moments after i have dreamed
of the rare entertainment of your eyes,
when(being fool to fancy)i have deemed
with your peculiar mouth my heart made wise;
at moments when the glassy darkness holds
the genuine apparition of your smile
(it was through tears always)and silence moulds
such strangeness as was mine a little while;
moments when my once more illustrious arms
are filled with fascination,when my breast
wears the intolerant brightness of your charms:
one pierced moment whiter than the rest
-turning from the tremendous lie of sleep
i watch the roses of the day grow deep.
This poem to me feels like a person in love with someone/fantasy. It is about wanting and loving in a manner that only in the dream it can actually come true.
This has been my favorite poem since middle school. I am now a senior graduating from a university and about to read this poem aloud in front of my poetry class today. I am about 10 minutes from where e.e. cummings was born and raised, and have had a particular affinity towards him ever since I read “g-r-a-s-s-h-o-p-p-e-r” which was introduced to me by my 8th grade English teacher. This poem, to me, is by far his sweetest, most love-filled and meaningful poem. Although not as abstract as his others, this poem is vivid in imagery and, like Frost, makes “sense sounds” that make it sound lyric and song-like.
E.E., when you wrote this, did you read me?
These words I’ve used to start my blog.
So what is this poem? Is it happy, is it sad? I haven’t gotten it yet, and would really like to!
I’ve read this poem many times, and every time I read it, I struggle with deciding if it is a sad or a happy poem.
This is one of the most exquisite sonnets I have ever read. I know it by heart. It is just beautiful, and so sweetly melancholy.
Listen to this poem as muscially adapted by John Cage and you will hear true understanding.
it took me a while to understnad this poem, but when it did, i just suddenly got it! it finally appreciated thsi poem. he probably DID have strange dreams, but that’s what made him a great poet! -_^
I bet e.e cummings had really strange dreams. if i could go anywhere, it would be e.e cumming’s dreams.
I love this poem so much. After reading in through several times, I now understand the greatness of this deep poem.