'Painting' life with his words

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” –  e. e. cummings

Today is the 114th anniversary of the birth of cummings, who authored some 2,900 poems, 2 autobiographical novels, 4 plays and several essays in his eventful and event-filled lifetime.

Some of his poems are free verse (with no concern for rhyme or meter), but many have a recognizable sonnet structure of 14 lines, with an intricate rhyme scheme. A number of his poems feature a typographically exuberant style, with words, parts of words, or punctuation symbols scattered across the page, and needing to be read aloud in order to clarify his meanings and emotions.  Also a painter, Cummings understood the importance of presentation, and used typography to "paint a picture" with some of his poems.

  

While he was not without controversy in his life and 

political leanings (he was a staunch supporter of 

Joseph McCarthy, for example), there’s little doubt 

that he is remembered as an eminent voice of 20^th century literature.

Check out Hello Poetry  http://hellopoetry.com/e-e-cummings/ to see some Cummings’ poems, including many showing his unique "paint a word picture" style. 

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/e_e_cummings

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/e_e_cummings

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/e_e_cummings

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