Poetry Post

I can't say I'm a huge poetry reader. It's probably because I'm too intellectually lazy to bother really teasing out the meanings, usually. But there are poems that I read in college that I still love. And this is one of them. It's by e.e. cummings (and yes, he insisted on not capitalizing his name-- that's not a mistake) and it's usually just called by the first line, "Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town." I think it's fairly open to interpretation, but I love to read it out loud and let it roll off my tongue. And the story that's hidden in there is really quite sweet, I think. For whatever reason I kept thinking of it last night, so I had to look it up and read it again. And now I have to share it with you-- enjoy!

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