e.e. cummings

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) –e.e.c.

 

 

i met edward estlin cummings in high school and was carried away by his trademark lower case letters. he seemed a rebel to me. i was a subtle, undercover rebel in those days and his understated rebellion fit me perfectly.

 

e.e. was a rebel with transcendental leanings and a love of nature as well:

i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

From “i thank You God for most this amazing” (1950)

 

e.e. was a person, like me, with dreams of becoming:

“Bon Dieu! may i some day do something truly great. amen.”

born ten years before his death, the year of my birth found him presenting as a guest professor at Harvard University.

 

i: six nonlectures

was the lower-case-title of talks that reveal the insides of the man as shown in his outline:

1. i & my parents
2. i & their son
3. i & selfdiscovery
4. i & you & is
5. i & now & him
6. i & am & santa claus

 

e.e. was the second-most widely read poet in America after r.frost.

 

i re-met e.e. at my first camp widow where his “i carry” poem was quoted on a t-shirt.

diving into to the writings about e.e., i’m reminded that each poet, actor, writer, or blogger who puts their heart into the world has their own personal story.

in researching for this post, i met e.e.’s lost Parisian lover, his parents (foremostly his mother), his famous writer childhood friends, his sojourn into war, the brief wives, and e.e.’s longtime partner in his final chapter.

 

e.e. reminds me that my person will spend the rest of my life with me: in my heart . . . (i find it is true) . . .

i carry your heart with me

by e.e. cummings