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22
SEVEN POEMS
BY E. E. CUMMINGS
[Description: Image of page 22, poem I.]
[Description: Image of page 22, poem I.]
I
little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don't be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i'll give them all to you to hold.
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
and i'll give them all to you to hold.
every finger shall have its ring
and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you're quite dressed
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud
you'll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they'll stare!
oh but you'll be very proud
and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we'll dance and sing
"Noel Noel"
23
[Description: Image of page 23, poems II & III]
II
the bigness of cannon
is skilful,
is skilful,
but i have seen
death's clever enormous voice
which hides in a fragility
of poppies. . . .
death's clever enormous voice
which hides in a fragility
of poppies. . . .
i say that sometimes
on these long talkative animals
are laid fists of huger silence.
on these long talkative animals
are laid fists of huger silence.
I have seen all the silence
full of vivid noiseless boys
full of vivid noiseless boys
at Roupy
i have seen
between barrages,
i have seen
between barrages,
the night utter ripe unspeaking girls.
III
Buffalo Bill's
defunct
who used to
ride a watersmooth-silver
stallion
and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat
Jesus
defunct
who used to
ride a watersmooth-silver
stallion
and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat
Jesus
he was a handsome man
and what i want to know is
how do you like your blueeyed boy
Mister Death
and what i want to know is
how do you like your blueeyed boy
Mister Death
24
[Description: Image of page 24, poems IV & V]
IV
when god lets my body be
From each brave eye shall sprout a tree
fruit that dangles therefrom
fruit that dangles therefrom
the purpled world will dance upon
Between my lips which did sing
Between my lips which did sing
a rose shall beget the spring
that maidens whom passion wastes
that maidens whom passion wastes
will lay between their little breasts
My strong fingers beneath the snow
My strong fingers beneath the snow
Into strenuous birds shall go
my love walking in the grass
my love walking in the grass
their wings will touch with her face
and all the while shall my heart be
and all the while shall my heart be
With the bulge and nuzzle of the sea
V
why did you go
little fourpaws?
you forgot to shut
your big eyes.
little fourpaws?
you forgot to shut
your big eyes.
where did you go?
like little kittens
are all the leaves
which open in the rain.
like little kittens
are all the leaves
which open in the rain.
little kittens who
are called spring,
is what we stroke
maybe asleep?
are called spring,
is what we stroke
maybe asleep?
25
[Description: Image of page 25, poems V, VI, & VII]
do you know? or maybe did
something go away
ever so quietly
when we weren't looking.
something go away
ever so quietly
when we weren't looking.
VI
when life is quite through with
and leaves say alas,
much is to do
for the swallow, that closes
a flight in the blue;
and leaves say alas,
much is to do
for the swallow, that closes
a flight in the blue;
when love's had his tears out,
perhaps shall pass
a million years
(while a bee doses
on the poppies, the dears;
perhaps shall pass
a million years
(while a bee doses
on the poppies, the dears;
when all's done and said, and
under the grass
lies her head,
by oaks and roses
deliberated.)
under the grass
lies her head,
by oaks and roses
deliberated.)
VII
O Distinct
Lady of my unkempt adoration
if I have made
a fragile curtain
Lady of my unkempt adoration
if I have made
a fragile curtain
song under the window of your soul
it is not like any songs
(the singers the others
they have been faithful
it is not like any songs
(the singers the others
they have been faithful
26
[Description: Image of page 26, poem VII]
to many things and which
die
i have been sometimes true
to Nothing and which lives
die
i have been sometimes true
to Nothing and which lives
they were fond of the handsome
moon never spoke ill of the
pretty stars and to
the serene the complicated
moon never spoke ill of the
pretty stars and to
the serene the complicated
and the obvious
they were faithful
and which i despise,
frankly
they were faithful
and which i despise,
frankly
admitting i have been true
only to the noise of worms
in the eligible day
under the unaccountable sun)
only to the noise of worms
in the eligible day
under the unaccountable sun)
Distinct Lady
swiftly take
my fragile certain song
that we may watch together
swiftly take
my fragile certain song
that we may watch together
how behind the doomed
exact smile of life's
placid obscure palpable
carnival where to a normal
exact smile of life's
placid obscure palpable
carnival where to a normal
melody of probable violins dance
the square virtues with the oblong sins
perfectly
gesticulate the accurate
the square virtues with the oblong sins
perfectly
gesticulate the accurate
strenuous lips of incorruptible
Nothing under the ample
sun, under the insufficient
day under the noise of worms
Nothing under the ample
sun, under the insufficient
day under the noise of worms
I. National Winter Garden
[Description: e.e. cummings, Drawing I.]
Burlesque
II. National Winter Garden
[Description: e.e. cummings, Drawing II.]
Burlesque
III. National Winter Garden
[Description: e.e. cummings, Drawing III]
Burlesque
IV. National Winter Garden
[Description: e.e. cummings, Drawing IV.]
Burlesque
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