It May Not Always Be So

E. E. Cummings

Edward Estlin Cummings (October 14, 1894–September 3, 1962), also known as E. E. Cummings or e e cummings, was an American poet and author. He wrote many books, plays, and nearly 3,000 poems over the course of his life. Cummings is particularly well-known for his poetry, in which he liked to experiment. He often wrote without punctuation and capitalization, and he was known to adjust line spacing and indentation, all of which were tools to capture the mood of each poem.

It May Not Always Be So; And I Say

E. E. Cummings
Tulips and Chimneys
1923

it may not always be so;and i say
that if your lips,which i have loved,should touch
another’s,and your dear strong fingers clutch
his heart,as mine in time not far away;
if on another’s face your sweet hair lay
in such silence as i know,or such
great writhing words as,uttering overmuch,
stand helplessly before the spirit at bay;

if this should be,i say if this should be—
you of my heart,send me a little word;
that i may go unto him,and take his hands,
saying, Accept all happiness from me.
Then shall i turn my face,and hear one bird
sing terribly afar in the lost lands.

Study Questions

Is this poem happy or sad?
What is the effect of the bizarre capitalization and punctuation?
What is the rhyme pattern?
Compare this with Since Feeling Is First. Which do you think is more interesting? Why?

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