Three by Cummings III
Poems by Edward Estlin Cummings.
dying is fine)but Death
?o
baby
i
wouldn't like
Death if Death
were
good:for
when(instead of stopping to think)you
begin to feel of it,dying
's miraculous
why?be
cause dying is
perfectly natural;perfectly
putting
it mildly lively(but
Death
is strictly
scientific
& artificial &
evil & legal)
we thank thee
god
almighty for dying
(forgive us,o life!the sin of Death
(Xaipe 6)
FINIS
Over silent waters
day descending
night ascending
floods the gentle glory of the sunset
In a golden greeting
splendidly to westward
as pale twilight
trem-
bles
into
Darkness
comes the last light's gracious exhortation
Lifting up to peace
so when life shall falter
standing on the shores of the
eternal
god
May i behold my sunset
Flooding
over silent waters
(Uncollected Poems [1910-1962] 28)
when god lets my body be
From each brave eye shall sprout a tree
fruit that dangles therefrom
the purpled world will dance upon
Between my lips which did sing
a rose shall beget the spring
that maidens whom passion wastes
will lay between their little breasts
My strong fingers between the snow
Into strenuous birds shall go
my love walking in the grass
their wings will touch with her face
and all the while shall my heart be
With the bulge and nuzzle of the sea
(Tulips & Chimneys SONGS IX)
Complete Poems (1991), ed. George J. Firmage, pp. 604, 878, 19.
See also Three by Cummings II: Poems by Edward Estlin Cummings.
Lane Core Jr. CIW P Sun. 11/28/04 08:26:08 AM
Categorized as Literary & Sunday Poetry Series.
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