Poetry on Thursday

Today's poem was authored by a prolific and well-known poet, E.E. Cummings. His eccentric use of punctuation, grammar, and form redefined poetry in the 1920s and still does. In a "non-lecture" at Harvard, he said, “So far as I am concerned, poetry and every other art was, is, and forever will be strictly and distinctly a question of individuality.” I wholeheartedly agree.

You Are Tired (I Think)

E.E. Cummings

You are tired,

(I think)

Of the always puzzle of living and doing;

And so am I.

Come with me, then,

And we'll leave it far and far away—

(Only you and I, understand!)

You have played,

(I think)

And broke the toys you were fondest of,

And are a little tired now;

Tired of things that break, and—

Just tired.

So am I.

But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,

And knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—

Open to me!

For I will show you the places Nobody knows,

And, if you like,

The perfect places of Sleep.

Ah, come with me!

I'll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,

That floats forever and a day;

I'll sing you the jacinth song

Of the probable stars;

I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,

Until I find the Only Flower,

Which shall keep (I think) your little heart

While the moon comes out of the sea.

"You Are Tired" by E.E. Cummings. E.E. Cummings: Complete Poems 1904-1962. Liveright (July 12, 2016).

You can read more about E. E. Cummings here.

I wish you mindfulness, peace, ease, sleep, and some poetry as this week winds down.