1. 9.

therearesomanytictoc
clockseverywheretellingpeople
whattoctictimeitisfor
ticticinstancefivetocminutestoc
pastsixtic

Springisnotregulatedanddoes
notgetoutofordernordo
itshandsalittlejerkingmove
overnumbersslowly

wedonot
winditupithasnoweights
springswheelsinsideof
itsslenderselfnoindeeddear
nothingofthekind.

(So,whenkissSpringcomes
wellkisseachkissotheronkissthekiss
lipsbecauseticclockstocdontmake
atocticdifference
tokisskissyouandto
kissme)

Title:Thetitleof9doesnotprovidemuchinformation.Itmightbeaboutsomethingthatisthe
amountof9orabout9people.

Paraphrase:Thepoemdetailshowclocksareeverywherealwaystellingpeoplewhattodo.It
goesontodetailhowtheseasonsespeciallyspringaren'trunbytheclocksoitdoesn'treally
matterwhattheclocksays.Thepoemfinishessayingthathewillgoonjustlivinghislifeandwill
notcarewhattheclocksays.

Connotation:Theauthorusesauniquewordphrasingtoexemplifyandmakepartsofthepoem
standout.InthefirststanzaCummingsrepeatstickandtockandreplacesitwithotherwords
thatyouwouldexpecttosee.Thisjarsthereaderandandhelpsthereaderunderstandthe
importanceofthepointtheauthoristryingtomake.InthatsituationCummingsistryingtoshow
howsillyclocksarealltheydoistickandtock.Cummingsrepeatskissinthelaststanzato
explorethatkissingismuchmoreimportanttohimthanclocksorwatchingthetimehewilldo
things.

Attitude:Themainattitudeoftheauthorisofannoyanceandfrustration.Cummingsisfrustrated
thatpeopleruntheirlivesbytheclock.Hecan'tunderstandwhypeoplefocusontheirtime
becauseitreallybothershimsincehethinkspeopleshouldjustfocusondoingthingsnot
alwaysworryingabouttime.


Shifts:Cummingsshiftsfromhere'swhyclocksandtimearebadtodefiance.Hisfirstthree
stanzasdetailsthesillinessoftimeandclocksbutthelaststanzaisanactofdefiancethatheis
notgoingtocareaboutclocksandtime.Hewilltakecareaboutwhatotherpeopledoheis
goingtodowhathewants.ThisshiftislikelyintendedasCummingswantstoshowthereader
thathewentfromsomethingisn'trighttodefiancejustashethinksthereadermightthink
somethingisn'trightbutthattheycanalsogotoanactofdefiance.

Title:Thepointofthetitleisitssimplicityandtheunimportanceofanumber.Justanumbernine
meansverylittleandthat'salltimeisanumber.Cummingsistryingtoshowthereaderthattime
isnotimportantbyhisplainnessandsimplicityofthetitle.

Theme:Themeaningofthispoemistohaveafreedomandnotbeconstrainedbyclocksand
thetime.Cummingspointyoushouldgooutliveyourlifeandstopsomethingwhenyoufeellike
stoppingnotmatterwhattimeitis.Heissayingifyou'retiredgotosleepdon'tgotosleep
becausetheclocksaysit'stime.Hesaysthatyoucanchangetheclockssointhatcaseweare
runningourlivesonspringwheelswhenweshouldberunningourlivesonourselves.These
dayspeopleseemtobeunabletolivewithoutaclockornotknowingthetimebutCummingsis
hopingthatpeoplewillchangetheirways.

2.Icarryyourheartwithme

icarryyourheartwithme(icarryitin
myheart)iamneverwithoutit(anywhere
igoyougo,mydearandwhateverisdone
byonlymeisyourdoing,mydarling)
ifear
nofate(foryouaremyfate,mysweet)iwant
noworld(forbeautifulyouaremyworld,mytrue)
andit'syouarewhateveramoonhasalwaysmeant
andwhateverasunwillalwayssingisyou

hereisthedeepestsecretnobodyknows
(hereistherootoftherootandthebudofthebud
andtheskyoftheskyofatreecalledlifewhichgrows
higherthanthesoulcanhopeormindcanhide)
andthisisthewonderthat'skeepingthestarsapart

icarryyourheart(icarryitinmyheart)

Title:ThepoemmaybeaboutsomeoneCummingsloveswhohealwaysthinksaboutand
alwaysdoeswhatgoodforthem.

Paraphrase:Cummingsstartsbytalkingabouthispersonoffocusheart.Hecarriestheirheart
inhisheart.Everythingtheauthordoesheiswiththispersonasthisallhecaresabout.The
personsheartishistreeoflifethatiseverythinginlifefromthegroundtothestars.

Connotation:Cummingsusespersonificationtoexaggeratehowmuchhelovesthisperson.He
callsthispersonthetreeoflife,themoon,andthesun.Heusesparenthesestointerrupt
sentencestoclarifythesentencesbutitmakesthesentencessoundmoreromantic,poetic,and
soundslikeCummingscaresmoreaboutthisperson.

Attitude:Theattitudeisofloveandcaring.Cummingsclearlythinksalotofthispersonandhis
attitudeisthathecanwritethispoembutitwillnotfullydescribehowmuchhelovesthis
person.

Shifts:WhileCummingsneverwaversinhistalkabouthowmuchhecaresabouthelovesthis
personheshiftshisviewpointthroughoutthepoem.Hestartsbyfocusingonwhatthisperson
meanstohimselfandthenchangestohowthispersonisotherworldly.

Title:ThetitleisabouthowCummingsvaluesthispersonsomuchthathecarriesthereheart
aroundwithhim.InotherwordsCummingsputsthewantsandneedsofthispersonabovehis
own.

Theme:Thispoemislikelyalovepoem.Cummingsvaluesapersonmorethananyoneelse.
Howeveramessagefromthispoemisthatpeoplearemostimportantandthatitisbesttofocus
onpeoplenottheotherthingsthatdistractusinlife.

3.IShallImagineLife

ishallimaginelife

isnotworthdyingif
(andwhen)rosescomplain
theirbeautiesareinvain

butthoughmankindpersuades
itselfthateveryweed's
aroseroses(youfeel
certain)willonlysmile

Title:Thepoemmaybeaboutsomeonethinkingaboutwhenababyisbornhowgreatthe
miracleoflifeis.

Paraphrase:Someoneisimaginginlifewhereapersoncomplainswhichmakesthere
goodnessorbeautysufferbecauseoftheircomplaining.Thentheyimaginethatalltheweeds
(complainers)areactuallynoncomplainersandlifeisgood.

Connotation:Cummingsusespersonification.Hecomparesaweedtoacomplaineranda
smilingrosetoagoodperson.Healsohastherosesmiling,

Attitude:Theattitudeisofhopingandwishingeventhoughtheauthorknowstherewishesand
hopesareneverpossible.TheattitudeofCummingsistohopetobuildyourspiritupsoyoufeel
likethereischangesinceifyoufollowyourheartwhoknowswhatmighthappen.

Shifts:Thepoemhasadramaticshift.Itgoesfromcomplainingabouthowmankindcomplains
waytoomuchtohoweveryweedcanbearosesoitissayingpositive.Theshiftgoesfrom
pessimistictooptimisticinbetweenstanzas.

Title:Thetitleistheauthorimaginglifefirstasaplacewhereeverythinglosesitsgracewhenit
complainsandthenimagineslifewhennothingcomplains.Thetitleistellingthereaderthatthe
authorhasthoughtdeeplyaboutthissubject.

Theme:Thethemeisthatpeopleshouldnotcomplainbecausenomatterhowgoodofaperson
theyaretheyarenotasgoodaseverybodyelse.Howeverifpeoplestayoptimisticandmake
lemonadeoutoflemonsthingsmayworkoutforthem,

4.YouAreTired
Youaretired
(Ithink)
Ofthealwayspuzzleoflivinganddoing
AndsoamI.

Comewithmethen
Andwe'llleaveitfarandfaraway
(OnlyyouandIunderstand!)

Youhaveplayed
(Ithink)
Andbrokethetoysyouwerefondestof
Andarealittletirednow
Tiredofthingsthatbreakand
Justtired.

SoamI.

ButIcomewithadreaminmyeyestonight
Andknockwitharoseatthehopelessgateofyourheart
Opentome!
ForIwillshowyoutheplacesNobodyknows
Andifyoulike
TheperfectplacesofSleep.

Ahcomewithme!
I'llblowyouthatwonderfulbubblethemoon
Thatfloatsforeverandaday
I'llsingyouthejacinthsong
Oftheprobablestars
Iwillattempttheunstartledsteppesofdream
UntilIfindtheOnlyFlower
Whichshallkeep(Ithink)yourlittleheart
Whilethemooncomesoutofthesea.

Title:Itmaybeauthorseeingsomeonewindedthatneedsrestaftertheyhavebeenthrougha
lot.

Paraphrase:Theauthoristalkingtothereader.Hetellsthereaderthatitappearsthattheyare
tiredaremightwanttogosomewhereelse.Theauthorofferstherewardofgoingtoanew
placewherethereaderwillfindrestandplacehemuchmoreenjoys.

Connotation:Cummingstalksintherare2ndperson.Thisgivesthereaderacloserconnection
totheauthorsinceitfeelsliketheauthorisdirectlyspeakingtoyou.Healsotalksabouthimself
agreeingwithyouliketheishavingaconversation.Allofthisleadstoagreaterappreciationfor
thepoembecauseitreallyfeelsliketheauthorisinterestedinyou.

Attitude:Theauthorsattitudeisofnewadventureandwelcoming.Cummingsseemsto
welcomeyouonajourneyinaratherfriendlywaybecauseheisinterestinhelpingyou.

Shifts:Thepoemshiftsfromhowtoughthethingsyouaregoingthrougharetoendingwithhow
greatthefuturecouldbe.Cummingsgivesafeelingofconnectionofdespairforboththereader
andauthorHethenslowlytransitionshistonetolookingtowardsthefutureofanewandbetter
place.

Title:ThetitleisCummingstellingthereaderthattheyaretiredoftheircurrentlifeandthe
hubbuboftheworld.

Theme:Themessageinthispoemisthattheworldisabusyplaceandthatsometimesyoujust
needafeastfromitall.Sometimesitisbesttoleavethecrazinessandsufferingofwhereyou
areandfindsomewherequiettobesomewheretosettledownandrestforawhile.Whilethis
poemwaswrittenbeforethetechnologicalageitcouldbesayingpowerdownyourdevicesput
themawayandjustfocusontheworldaroundyouinsteadofeverythingeveryonebecause
sometimesdoingtoomuchistoomuch.Rest,sleep,relax,andrejuvenateforaslongaswant
andthanyoucanentertheworldagain.

5.IHaveFoundWhatYouAreLike

ihavefoundwhatyouarelike
therain

(Whofeathersfrightenedfields
withthesuperiordustofsleep.
wields

easilythepaleclubofthewind
andswirledjustlysoulsofflowerstrike

theairinutterablecoolness

deedsofgreenthrillinglight
withthinne
d

newfragileblues

lurchand.
press

inthewoods
which
stutter
and

sing

Andthecoolnessofyoursmileis
stirringofbirdsbetweenmyarmsbut
ishouldratherthananything
have(almostwhenhugenesswillshut
quietly)almost
yourkiss

Title:Thispoemmaybeaboutsomeonewhofindsadeepdarksecretaboutsomeone.Once
theylearnthistheyreallyunderstandwhothispersonisandknoweverythingaboutthem.

Paraphrase:Thispoemdetailstheauthorsrelationshipwithnature.Hetalksaboutallthe
greatestthingsinnaturethathemayhaveneverrealized.Thewindandtherainhemayhave
nevernoticeduntilhereallypaidattention.Nowthathehasrealizedallthesecretbeautiesof
naturehecanreallyappreciateit.

Connotation:Thestructureofthepoemmakesthesentencesshortandthestanzassometimes
onlythesentence.Thisquickandshortpartsmakesthebrillianceofnaturestandout.The

poemsentencesoftenabruptlyendslargelyjustfocusingontheverbsofnatureandignoring
prepositionsandothermeaninglesswordssothereaderfocusesonthebeautyofnature.

Attitude:Theauthorsattitudeisoflongines,happiness,andappreciationfornatureandthe
worldaroundhim.Theauthorreallyfeelslikehecanbetterunderstandlifeandhaveafuller
appreciationforlife,nature,andtheworldaroundhim.Thisputstheauthorinagoodmood.
Thispoemwaslikelywritteninahappytimefortheauthor.

Shifts:Thepoemstartsbybeingdescriptiveaboutnatureandallthegreatmiraclesthatnature
provides.Cummingsthantalksabouthisappreciationforthenatureandallotsbeautyandall
thatitgivestohim.Cummingsneverwaversfromhistoneofaweandamazement.

Title:ThetitleisCummingsfindingoutwhatnaturereallyislike.Herealizesit'snotjustleaves
andplantsandanimals.Itisaplaceofmiraclesandhopeandwheremiracleoflifeshouldlive.

Theme:Themessageofthispoemisthatnatureisanimportantplace.Somepeopledon't
recognizethebeautyandgreatnessofearthandnature.Cummingsdoesn'twantpeopletotake
natureforgrantedtheymustrecognizehowgreatnatureismetheimportanceofitis.Natureis
wheremankindstartedandwhereCummingsbelievesmankindshouldstilltreasurein.

6.HumanityILoveYou

Humanityiloveyou
becauseyouwouldratherblackthebootsof
successthanenquirewhosesouldanglesfromhis
watchchainwhichwouldbeembarrassingforboth

partiesandbecauseyou
unflinchinglyapplaudall
songscontainingthewordscountryhomeand
motherwhensungattheoldhoward

Humanityiloveyoubecause
whenyou'rehardupyoupawnyour
intelligencetobuyadrinkandwhen
you'reflushpridekeeps

youfromthepawnshopsand
becauseyouarecontinuallycommitting
nuisancesbutmore
especiallyinyourownhouse

Humanityiloveyoubecauseyou
areperpetuallyputtingthesecretof
lifeinyourpantsandforgetting

it'sthereandsittingdown

onit
andbecauseyouare
forevermakingpoemsinthelap
ofdeathHumanity

ihateyou

Title:ThispoemmaybeabouthowCummingsseesallthegreatnessofhumanityandreally
howgreatallofmankindis.

Paraphrase:Thispoemisaboutallthethingsthatarewrongwithhumanity.Whydohumans
hidetheirsecretsandthenforgetaboutthem?Cummingssaysheloveshumanityforallthe
horriblethingsthattheydo.Allthesillyandstrangethingsandalltheactionsthatareselfishhe
hates.Cummingsfinishesbysayinghowhehatesmankindsincetheyalwaysmakepoems
aboutdeathsandarenegative.Cummingsissayinghehatesallofhumanityandwhatitstands
for.

Connotation:Cummingsusesastrangestanzabreakupoftenputtingawordthatseemsto
belonginthenextstanzaintheoneaboveit.Forexampleinthelaststanzaitwouldmakesince
tosayHumanityIhateyoubutinsteadheputshumanityinthestanzabeforethatmakingfora
effectthatmakesthereaderreadsittwicetofullyunderstandit.Italsoprovidesaneffectof
suspenseforthereaderthatmakesthemmoreengaged.Cummingsusesthiseffectothertimes
throughoutthepoem.

Attitude:TheattitudeofCummingsisofanger.Cummingsisupsetaboutallthemistakesand
ridiculousthingsthathumanityodesonaregularbasis.Cummingsmightalsohaveanattitude
ofwishingthatmaybehumanitycanchangeitswaysandnodoallthesethingsthatCummings
justhates.

Shifts:Fromthetitleandfirstlineofthepoemthereadermightthinkthatthispoemisaboutthe
greatnessofhumanity.Howeverthereaderquicklyrealizesthatthepoemisactuallyaboutall
theproblemswithhumanity.Cummingsstayswiththisthemethroughoutthepoemandreally
makeshispointinthelaststanza.

Title:Thetitleisactuallysarcasm.Cummingssaysheloveshumanitythroughoutthepoemand
thensaysallthebadthingsabouthumanitywhichisclearlysarcasmbyCummings.Attheend
ofthepoemCummingsstopshissarcasmandsayshehateshumanity.Thetitleistoconfuse
thereaderandthenrealizethesarcasmandthatCummingsfeelsstronglyaboutthissubject.

Theme:Themessageofthispoemisthathumanitydoesalltheseridiculousthingsanditisan
embarrassmenttohumanity.Cummingsistryingtochangepeople'swaysandgiveawareness
topeopleofwhattheyarereallydoing.Cummingsissayingthathehateshumanityforalltheir

hatred,laziness,andnegativityandthatmaybepeopleshouldchangetheirwayssohumanity
willnotbeembarrassedbytheiractions.

7.AnyoneLivedInAPrettyHowTown
anyonelivedinaprettyhowtown
(withupsofloatingmanybellsdown)
springsummerautumnwinter
hesanghisdidn'thedancedhisdid

Womenandmen(bothlittleandsamll)
caredforanyonenotatall
theysowedtheirisn'ttheyreapedtheir
same
sunmoonstarsrain

childrenguessed(butonlyafew
anddowntheyforgotasuptheygrew
autumnwinterspringsummer)
thatnoonelovedhimmorebymore

whenbynowandtreebyleaf
shelaughedhisjoyshecriedhisgrief
birdbysnowandstirbystill
anyone'sanywasalltoher

someonesmarriedtheireveryones
laughedtheircryingsanddidtheirdance
(sleepwakehopeandthen)they
saidtheirneverstheyslepttheirdream

starsrainsunmoon
(andonlythesnowcanbegintoexplain
howchildrenareapttoforgettoremember
withupsofloatingmanybellsdown)

onedayanyonediediguess
(andnoonestoopedtokisshisface)
busyfolkburiedthemsidebyside
littlebylittleandwasbywas

allbyallanddeepbydeep
andmorebymoetheydreamtheirsleep
nooneandanyoneearthbyapril

wishbyspiritandifbyyes


Womenandmen(bothdongandding)
summersutumnwinterspring
reapedtheirsowingandwenttheircame
sunmoonstarsrain

Title:Thispoemmaybeaboutthatpeoplealwaysraveabouthowgreattheirtownisbutthat
reallyeverybodysaysthesethingsandmostpeopledon'treallyliveinsuchgreattowns.

Paraphrase:Thispoemisaboutatownwherealltheycareaboutiswork.Theyjustdothere
workinthefarmlifegoesonandnobodyloveseachotherorcaresabouteachother.Thistown
maybenicebutitdoesn'tmatterbecausethereisnoloveandkindness.Someonediesandis
buriedandlifegoesonwithoutamoment'sthought,

Connotation:Cummingsrarelyusesrhyminginhispoemshoweverhedoesinthisonemaking
thisoneofhismorepoeticsoundingpoemsthatIhaveread.Herepeatsthingsmultipletimes
likedetailingtheseasonsandtheweather.Thisistosignifythatlifekeepsongoingonand
nothingreallystops.ThewordsfollowsthetraditionalCummingsstyleofallflowingtogetherand
theuseofwordsthathaverebalancetoreplacegrammaticalwords.

Attitude:Cummingsattitudeisdepressionandsadness.Heisverysadashedetailsthistown
wherenobodyloveseachotherandalltheydoisworkandgoonwithlife.Evenonpartsofthe
poemthatmightappearmorepositivetheauthorstillsoundssadandmiserable.

Shifts:Cummingsactuallyhaspassageherewithquatrainsararityforhim.Eachquatrainthe
subjectshiftsalittlebutitisalmostalwaysdepressingandtheraretimesittalksaboutsome
emotionbeinggiventhenextstanzawilldetailhowlifegoesonandnobodyiscaredfor.

Title:Thetitleissayinghowallthesepeoplelivedinabeautifultownbutthattheyrarely
appreciateditbecausetheydon'tshowemotionloveorkindness.

Theme:Thethemeofthispoemisthatpeopleshouldalwaysjustfocusonworkbutshould
showsomeemotionandfindtimeforfun.Maybetheyshouldtakeamomentaroundthemto
appreciatelifeandtheresettings.Peopleshouldactuallyhaverealconversationsamongsteach
otherandreallyhavepeoplethattheycareabout.

8.Spring
Springislikeaperhapshand
(whichcomescarefully
outofNowhere)arranging
awindow,intowhichpeoplelook(while
peoplestare
arrangingandchangingplacing
carefullythereastrange
thingandaknownthinghere)and


changingeverythingcarefully

springislikeaperhaps
Handinawindow
(carefullyto
andfrommovingNewand
Oldthings,while
peoplestarecarefully
movingaperhaps
fractionofflowerhereplacing
aninchofairthere)and

withoutbreakinganything.

Title:Thispoemmaybeaboutthemiracleoflifeinspring.

Paraphrase:Thispoemshortlydetailsspring.Itcallsaspringastorefrontwindowwhere
someoneisrearrangingsomething,plantingsomethingnewinthedirt,orjuststarting
somethingagain.Ittalksabouthowpeoplewatchasthechangesasoccurpossiblyrejoicingin
thisnewbeginning.

Connotation:Thewholepoemisahyperbole.Comparingthestartofspringtothechangingofa
storefront.Thedetailsofthechangingofthestorefronthavethereownhyperboleaswell.The
peoplewatchingthechangingarelikepeoplewatchingthefirstflowerbuddingshakingofthe
iceofwinterandthatpersonsogratefulthatwinterispastandthemiracleoflifeandspringis
here.Thetwomainstanzasstartthesameforaniceeffectofrepeatingbutcontinuingabout
whatyouaretalkingaboutwithoutboringthereader.

Attitude:Theattitudeisofhappiness.Thepoembeckonshowgreatisthemiracleoflifeatthe
startofthespringafterthecoldhardwinter!Theauthorseemsamazedenoughthatheusesa
hyperboletofurthershowhisamaznetofthismiraclesoshowingacomparisonineverydaylife
thatalsohasitsownmystique.

Shifts:Thepoemisajourneythroughoutthestartofspring.Itstartswiththehandjustreaching
outasthefirstsignofspring.Itprogressivelytransitionsthroughthestepsofthestartofspring
andfinisheswithhownothingwasbrokenorharmedbutjustmadebetter.Thedevelopmentof
springhelpsthereadergreaterappreciateitsmiraclethatisthestartofspringandthefirst
flowerbloominginthesnowy,icy,andcoldwinterair.

Title:Thetitleisjustacluetothereadertomakesurethatthereaderknowsthattheyhyperbole
thatheistalkingaboutisunderstoodthatitisspring.

Theme:Thethemeofthispoemistorevelinthebeautyandmiracleofnewlifeatthestartof
spring.Cummingswantsthereadtounderstandhowspecialthisnewbeginningreallyisand

thathowspringmagicallyappearsinthemiddleofwinterbutreallytheendissomethinginlife
wemighttakeforgrantedbutisreallyquitespecial.AnothermessageCummingsistryingto
giveisanewbeginningcanchangeeverything.Whenthestorefrontchangespeoplewatchwith
shockatthegreatnessofthisnewstart.Thepoemsaysyouwillonlygetsomemanyrestarts
notlikespringwhichgetsoneeveryyearandyoushouldtakeadvantageofthatcleanslate.

9.Osweetspontaneous
Osweetspontaneous
earthhowoftenhave
the
doting

fingersof
prurientphilosopherspinched
and
poked

thee
hasthenaughtythumb
ofscienceprodded
thy

beauty.
how
oftenhavereligionstaken
qtheeupontheirscraggyknees
squeezingand

buffetingtheethatthoumightestconceive
gods
(but
true

totheincomparable
couchofdeaththy
rhythmic
lover

thouanswerest

themonlywith
(spring)

Title:Thispoemmaybeabouthowtherearealwaysthingsgoingoninlifeandthatthingsare
spontaneousandthereisneveristimetobebored.


Paraphrase:Thepoembysayinghowearthneverstopsbecausetherudeandalways
searchinghandsofthephilosophersaretryingtofindmoreanddiscoversomethingelse.He
goesontosayhowsciencehasruinedbeautyandthatreligiouspeopleseemtoonlycare
aboutGodanddon'tfocusontheotherthingsinlifeliketheheart.

Connotation:Steinbeckusespersonificationtomaketheareastheheischastisingseemlike
realpeopleormonsters.Hereferstoscienceashavingaprotrudingthumbmakingscience
seemlikeareallifebeing.Thestanzasarebrokenupoddlytokeepthereaderengagedsothe
poemreallymakessensetothemandtheycangetthedeepermessage.

Attitude:Cummingsattitudeisofrebellion.HewonderswhyshouldIfollowphilosophy,science,
andreligion?Hegoesontoinferthathewilldosomethingdifferentnotfollowthenormthat
theseinstitutionsoftenmakepeoplefollow.Sincehedoesn'tlikethem.Theattitudeofthepoem
issayingyoucanberebelliousifyouwantandthatisjauntfinesinceIamtoo.

Shifts:Cummingsseemstogetmorerebelliousandupsetasthepoemgoeson.Heusesa
coupleperiodssomethingherarelydoestoleadintoamoreagitatedshift.Atthestartofthe
poemheisalmostsighingwonderingwhyarethingsthesewaysbutbytheendofthepoemhe
isopenlycriticizingtheseinstitutionsandsayingmaybeweshouldsomethingdifferent.

Title:ThetitleasCummingshasdonebeforeisofirony.Hedoesnotfindtheearthsweet
becauseitisspontaneous.Insteadthespontaneouswayofearthandofsomeofthenormsby
theinstitutionshementionsarethedirectoppositeofsweet.

Theme:Cummingspointisthatthesethreeinstitutionsofscience,religion,andphilosophyare
nottobetrusted.Hefindsthattheyleadwiththeheadnottheheart.Theyprotrudeinpeople's
businessbecausetheyareconcernedwithhowsmartpeoplearebutaren'tworriedabouthow
lovingandcaringpeoplearetoeachother.Heespeciallydoesn'tlikereligionbecauseittells
peoplewhattodowhethertheylikeitornot.Cummingsthinkspeopleshouldwhattheywantto
dobasedontheirheartandwhattheyreallyareaboutandlove.Hedoesn'twantpeopleto
followwhatreligion,scienceandphilosophytellthemwhattheydo.Cummingsobviouslyleads
hislifewithhisheartandhehopeseverybodywilldothesamebecausethatishowtheywill
reallybehappy.

10.SomewhereIhaveNeverTraveled,GladlyBeyond
somewhereihavenevertravelled,gladlybeyond
anyexperience,youreyeshavetheirsilence:
inyourmostfrailgesturearethingswhichencloseme,
orwhichicannottouchbecausetheyaretoonear

yourslightestlookeasilywilluncloseme
thoughihaveclosedmyselfasfingers,
youopenalwayspetalbypetalmyselfasSpringopens
(touchingskilfully,mysteriously)herfirstrose


orifyourwishbetocloseme,iand
mylifewillshutverybeautifully,suddenly,
aswhentheheartofthisflowerimagines
thesnowcarefullyeverywheredescending

nothingwhichwearetoperceiveinthisworldequals
thepowerofyourintensefragility:whosetexture
compelsmewiththecolourofitscountries,
renderingdeathandforeverwitheachbreathing

(idonotknowwhatitisaboutyouthatcloses
andopensonlysomethinginmeunderstands
thevoiceofyoureyesisdeeperthanallroses)
nobody,noteventherain,hassuchsmallhands

Title:Thispoemmaybeabouttheauthoristryingtoavoidacertainplaceorsituationandgoing
veryaroundorpastthissituation.

Paraphrase:Cummingsistalkingtoalovedone.Hetalksabouthowhecan'tgettothisperson
buthefeelsaconnectionasgreatasthemiracleofspring.Hefeelsopenupuptohisperson
likethispersoninspiredsomethinginhimthathedoesn'tnormallygetandthispersontakeshim
toplacehedoesn'tnormallygo.Thispersonopensupdoorsthathedoesn'tgettoseebuthe
can'talwaysenterthem.Itisaratherromanticpoem.

Connotation:Cummingsusesmetaphorsusingtherosetodescribehisthoughtsandfeelings
aboutthisperson.Heusespersonificationindescribingtherainwithsmallhands.Thisaddsto
theimageryofthepoemandhelpsthereaderunderstandhowmuchCummingscaresand
lovesthisperson.LastlyheusesIandyouthroughoutthepoemsayinghowhefeelsforthis
personandtalksdirectlytothispersonbyusingyou.ThismakesitfeelthatCummingsreally
knowsthispersonwellandfeelsaconnectionwiththem.

Attitude:Cummingsattitudeisoflove.Heclearlycan'tgetthispersonoutofhismindandevery
timethispersonevenlooksathimhegetsafeeling.ClearlyCummingishavinglongingfeeling
somebutisalsoappreciatingthebeautyofnatureandofthisperson.

Shifts:Cummingsstartswithwherethispersontakeshimandhowtheyhelpbringhimtoplace
hehasneverbeenandthehopethathemightgosomewhereheprobablystillwillnevergo.He
changestoamoreappreciationtoneneartheendofthepoemasheisgratefulforthisperson
forbeingasgracefulandmiraculousasaroseopeningatthebeginningofthespring.

Title:Thereadermustmakeaninferenceaboutthetitle.Cummingsistalkingaboutan
experiencethathehasneverexperiencedastheplaceheastraveledbutthathewouldgo
gladlybeyondthatplacebecausethispersonencloseshimandgiveshimacertainfeelingofa
placethathewouldliketogo.


Theme:Thethemeofthispoemisthebeautyofspring,nature,andtheappreciationofwhere
somebodyyouloveverymuchcantakeyou.Cummingsfeelslikethispersoncantakehim
anywhere,openthedoorshenevergottoexperience,andhelphimappreciatenatureandthe
worldaroundhim.Heishopingthateverybodycanfindtheyreallycareaboutthatcantake
themtotheirefavoriteplaceandnevertakelifeforgranted.