all which isn’t singing is mere talking

all which isn’t singing is mere talking
and all talking’s talking to oneself
(whether that oneself be sought or seeking
master or disciple sheep or wolf)

gush to it as diety or devil
-toss in sobs and reasons threats and smiles
name it cruel fair or blessed evil-
it is you (ne i)nobody else

drive dumb mankind dizzy with haranguing
-you are deafened every mother’s son-
all is merely talk which isn’t singing
and all talking’s to oneself alone

but the very song of(as mountains
feel and lovers)singing is silence

Analysis, meaning and summary of e.e. cummings's poem all which isn’t singing is mere talking

7 Comments

  1. Kit Johnson says:

    Music, specifically singing, is the most eloquent form of communication between humans. Talking, is the basest form, and in truth is merely speaking to our selves.
    Only when we truly empty our minds and listen, do we connect with nature and love.

  2. Denise Varnedore says:

    “all which isn’t singing is mere talking” no comment ( currently listening to some beautiful music…)

  3. Stacee says:

    This is one of my favorite poems. It illistrates how silence can be worth more between people than silly no-meaning words. E.E. Cummings has had the idea of a perfict relationship between all people on this earth. I think that he’s a true genius!

  4. Chele says:

    “Song”–musical or poetic–is the only authentic discourse for this poet–all else is idle chatter. Yet we do it to know we exist and to connect with our connected others that we think we’re seperate from, But Silence will speak this and validate this truth of Onenesss.

  5. Tristessa says:

    I think this poem isn’t only about how silence can be both powerful and insignificant, but also communicates that man’s only loyalty is to himself, and whenever we speak or argue or seek to convince others, all we are doing is attempting to convince ourselves that our own convictions are valid. I see in this poem a message of ‘dont preach to the converted’.

  6. Lane says:

    That is really cool, I like the idea of silence being more important than all the useless words we blab out all the time (like this comment).

  7. Katrina says:

    THIS WAS AMAZING IT INSPIRES ME SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

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