E. E. Cummings

E. E. Cummings's work was a little hard for me to understand. I would have to say his very unusual style of writing was very interesting and at times very amusing.



One poem in particular is "if there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have."



As I read this poem several thoughts come to my mind. Cummings must have had a wonderful mother. A mother that was always there for him, a mother that always loved him. He is very clear that if there is a heaven-- his mother will have one, or be there.

The Bible refers to Eve as the first mother and the Hebrew word mother refers to "one who bonds the family." Cummings's mother must have fit that definition for him to write about what she deserved--Heaven.



I am not to sure whether or not he believes in God because he wanders about the after life and yet he quotes one of the oldest hymns of the church "Lilies-of-the-Valleys". I wander if his mother was a devout Christian and took him to church where he was introduced to old songs, such as Amazing Grace, Lilly of the Valley, etc.



He also goes on to use a beginning quote of the Bible when he says "This is my beloved", the same words God used to describe His son Christ when he fulfilled his role. "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased". Cummings only uses the first four words of the pharse to introduce a sense of royality-- his father and the whole garden bowing to his mother.



Again there seems to be so many similiarites to his quotes and scripiture from the Bible. The garden represents "Garden of Eden" or some refer to the garden as heaven. Also the bowing of his father and the whole garden would give you the same picture as the Bible gives about Christ-- every knee shall bow!



Cummings may have not been a religious man, but I do feel he read the Bible and used verses to blend into his poetry. I feel like he tries to be politically correct and not take a strong stance on the issue, yet he still acknowledges some facts about the after life.