Monday, April 12, 2010

anyone lived in a pretty how town

This is one of those poems that when I first read it, I wondered what on earth e e cummings was thinking/smoking/doing. It made no sense. But I had an amazing teacher who walked me through. If you take the time to read this, pretend anyone is the name of a man in the town and noone is the name of a woman - it should help a little. :)

anyone lived in a pretty how town

by E. E. Cummings


anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn't he danced his did


Women and men(both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their isn't they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain


children guessed(but only a few

and down they forgot as up they grew

autumn winter spring summer)

that noone loved him more by more


when by now and tree by leaf

she laughed his joy she cried his grief

bird by snow and stir by still

anyone's any was all to her


someones married their everyones

laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake hope and then)they

said their nevers they slept their dream


stars rain sun moon

(and only the snow can begin to explain

how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down)


one day anyone died i guess

(and noone stooped to kiss his face)

busy folk buried them side by side

little by little and was by was


all by all and deep by deep

and more by more they dream their sleep

noone and anyone earth by april

wish by spirit and if by yes.


Women and men(both dong and ding)

summer autumn winter spring

reaped their sowing and went their came

sun moon stars rain


If you are interested, you can read a pretty good analysis of this poem here.

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