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.