Cummings, regarded as one of the most important twentieth century American poets, is a curious poet in so many ways. It is his idiosyncratic layouts, syntax, lower-case spelling, and punctuation which challenge poetic norms.
On the page, they are often arranged in unusual forms; sometimes you can find one poem being submerged within the structure of another. They have associations with cubist painting where we are being invited to see the image/poem from a variety of perspectives and views. They often appear free formed, almost impressionistic, with links to improvised jazz music.
A writer and a traveller
Cummings, after studying at Harvard, enlisted in the ambulance corps during WW1 but sent letters home that drew the attention of the military censors as they expressed anti-war views. He was arrested by the French military on suspicion of espionage and undesirable activities and locked up for several months.
This experience formed the basis of his novel The Enormous Room. Cummings, however, loved Paris and returned there often. His collection Tulips and Chimneys, with its inventive use of grammar and syntax, was published in 1921 and established his reputation as an avant-garde poet.
Cummings also travelled widely and worked as an essayist and portraitist for Vanity Fair. Although he worked in various creative fields and delivered a series of lectures published as i—six nonlectures, it was for his poetry that established his reputation.
If you like your poems in a traditional rhyming format then Cummings will be a difficult read. If you like a challenge, give him a try with this link: https://youtu.be/HrBvNppP6QI?si=t22v61Vmyqi04bhH
To hear a range of living poets, it would be worth looking at the forthcoming Ledbury Poetry Festival.
Improvised tribute
I was recently at a monthly poetry meeting with Ledbury-based friends to read and discuss Cumming’s work and life. Having started our readings in the host’s garden, we were abruptly forced to retire inside when the weather changed.
I asked everyone to give their own immediate impressions of what they had just seen and experienced in the garden. They are arranged here as a Cummings-style tribute.
garden, a mystery
grey pigeon in green trees
celandine stars
floating ferns
acer
clouds
moving clouds
corrugated wooden decking
gaps in the decking
wooden bench-whicker chairs
clouds
rain coming YES
rain
raining
HAIL
Martin Griffiths and friends
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