darling!because — Poetry is for everyone #2
Something a little more abstract:
Poetry hits in a different way for me. I don’t always understand what I’m reading but it always makes me feel something. Just like looking at a piece of art. The response is visceral, primal even and I love it.
I also love its shorter form so you can easily return to poems again and again and get something different out of them every time, even when reading them over and over in the same session.
I find it really helpful when I am seeking inspiration, or feel a little stuck in myself to intuitively select a poetry book of the shelf - poetry gets me out of my head and into my feeling, into my body.
Below is another favourite from one of my favourite poets. I had the first line inscribed on my iPod back in the day - remember those heady days?
It is abstract in that it is one of those poems you think you have a handle on until it challenges you to take off in a different direction. It feels very elastic and playful. This poet was a master of that.
At drama school we had assessments at the end of each term and would sometimes have to recite a poem for them. This poem is the first one I chose to perform because I felt held by it. It was also one of the first poems I really adored that felt properly grown up.
I hope you enjoy, Happy Sunday!
darling!because my blood can sing
by e.e. cummings
darling!because my blood can sing
and dance(and does with each your least
your any most very amazing now
or here)let pitiless fear play host
to every isn't that's under the spring
- but if a look should april me,
down isn't's own isn't go ghostly they
doubting can turn men's see to stare
their faith to how their joy to why
their stride and breathing to limp and prove
- but if a look should april me,
some thousand million hundred more
bright worlds than merely by doubting have
darkly themselves unmade makes love
armies(than hate itself than no
meanness unsmaller)armies can
immensely meet for centuries
and(except nothing)nothing's won
- but if a look should april me
for half a when, whatever is less
alive than never begins to yes
but if a look should april me
(though such a perfect hope can feel
only despair completes strikes
forests of mind, mountains of soul)
quite at the hugest which of his who
death is killed dead. Hills jump with brooks:
trees tumble out of twigs and sticks;
Though I find the shape of poetry on a page absolutely integral to its beauty and my preference is always to enjoy it that way, you can hear e.e. cummings himself reading the poem here. It’s a little declamatory but I always think it’s amazing to hear a poet read their own work aloud so you can hear the true syncopation that was intended.
How did this poem make you feel? Are you an e.e. cummings fan? How do you feel about his subversion of form and grammar? Do you have a favourite poem of his? Does he remind you of anyone else? I’d love to hear from you!
I am now an affiliate of Bookshop.org so if you’d like to read more from any of the featured artists on our growing poetry curation, I have put together a selection on my page <3
Enjoy my writing and want to support it? Become a paid subscriber today. You’ll get full access to in-depth articles, inspirational tools, thoughtful community discussions, arts and meditation related gatherings, plus the full back catalogue of archived posts. You can also “like” my posts by tapping the heart icon, share them on Substack Notes or other social media, and/or send them to a friend.