i thank You God for most this amazing

day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e.cummings

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Yes, it’s Saturday. And yes, there will be no new assignment today (though everyone’s obviously free to write as much as they want). That doesn’t mean you’re totally off the hook, though.

Developing one’s poetic chops is as much about reading poetry as it is about writing it. When you discover new poets and dive back into works you already love you deepen your memory, train your ear, and expand your horizons (and your vocabulary!). You also often get jealous, which is rarely a bad thing when it comes to writing.

So: this weekend, share with us a poem that you love (by someone who isn’t you, please). You can quote a particularly striking line (or two) in a new message in the Commons, or drop a link to the whole piece. Most importantly: tell us, in a sentence or two, what about it moves you.

 

This poem is a total joyous celebration of life.
Whenever I am feeling a bit down or frustrated, reading this poem lifts my heart.
I love how mr cummings plays with words and punctuation.
It is pure fun and gambolling joyous revelry.
” . . . most this amazing day . . .”
“how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any– lifted from the no
of all nothing — human merely being”