Born on this day October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, E.E. Cummings was a multi-talented individual, whose creative skills extended beyond the realms of poetry to encompass painting, essay writing, playwriting, and authoring. He is particularly celebrated for his distinctive style of poetry, characterized by a playful use of language and syntax that often defied conventional literary norms. A Harvard graduate, Cummings’ unconventional approach to language was deeply rooted in his academic background where he developed a profound appreciation for the transformative power of words.
As a poet, Cummings demonstrated an extraordinary ability to bend language to his will, creating verses that were as visually striking as they were linguistically innovative. His playful use of punctuation, capitalization, and spacing gave his works a unique visual identity that made them instantly recognizable. His poems often resembled paintings on paper, with words scattered across the page like brush strokes on a canvas. The unconventional formatting was not merely an aesthetic choice but served a functional purpose, forcing readers to slow down and engage with the text more deeply.
In addition to his poetry, Cummings was also a skilled painter, essayist, author, and playwright. His paintings, like his poems, were marked by a playful exploration of form and color. As an essayist and author, he demonstrated the same linguistic dexterity that defined his poetry, crafting narratives that were both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. His plays were similarly innovative, often incorporating elements of absurdism and surrealism.
Cummings’ playful use of language can be attributed in part to his academic training at Harvard. The university’s rigorous academic environment nurtured his intellectual curiosity and encouraged him to challenge established norms. Cummings’ innovative approach to language reflects his ability to think critically and creatively – skills that were honed during his time at Harvard.
E.E. Cummings was a master of language, using it as a tool to create works of art that were as visually compelling as they were linguistically innovative. His playful approach to language is a testament to his creative genius and remains a defining feature of his literary legacy.
[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(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)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
-e e cummings
Curated by Jennifer
