His Style
E.E. Cummings poetry was complex. Simply put, words cannot fully describe his style of writing. Some would classify is poetry as a form of modernism, but I believe it's much more.
Anyone lived in a pretty how town optimizes Cumming's writing style, because it contains all the elements he was most famous for. Overarching themes of love and egocentricity are an underlining thought behind a superficially simple poem. Alliteration, rhyme, repetition, and syntax choices also elevate the complexity of the poem. At first glance, this poem seems to be non sense, but as I read and reread the poem I noticed so much more. This poem described the life of a man called anyone, an individualistic character in a conforming society. His life is insignificant to the people in the picturesque town, until he meets his love, noone. They're love story goes unnoticed by the people so wrapped up in their own lives. |
anyone lived in a pretty how town
E. E. Cummings, 1894 - 1962 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 |