I was browsing in Barnes & Noble and came across that e. e. cummings book. It’s 100 great poems for only $10–well worth it. Here’s one of my favorite, a definite modern classic:

since feeling is first

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a far better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry
–the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids’ flutter which says

we are for eachother: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life’s not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

7 Responses to “e. e. cummings: since feeling is first”

1. michelle says:

   12/1/2004 at 2:13 am

   i love that

   the best gesture of my brain
   is less than your eyelids flutter

   i will be fluttering my eyelids
   all day tomorrow
   just thinking of that

   Reply
2. John Q. Public says:

   12/14/2004 at 3:14 pm

   mine is

   somewhere i have never traveled….
   it always makes me miss love

   Reply
3. Kinsey says:

   10/27/2006 at 8:02 am

   wow. This is the best poem I have ever read. I miss writing, I could never be this good though.

   Reply
4. Eddy says:

   1/8/2007 at 5:24 pm

   This is by far my favorite e.e. cummings poem.

   If you like this, try reading some of Anna Akhmatova’s stuff.

   Reply
5. shelby says:

   10/30/2007 at 11:36 am

   “the best function of my brain is less than your eyelids flutter”

   that’s going to be my next tattoo

   Reply
6. cqkgjytmwg says:

   11/26/2007 at 9:29 am

   cqkgjytmwg cqkgjytmwg cqkgjytmwgcqkgjytmwg
   cqkgjytmwgcqkgjytmwgcqkgjytmwg cqkgjytmwg

   Reply
7. That girl says:

   1/25/2009 at 2:08 pm

   my boyfriend sent me this poem in the mail the other day,
   and i fell inlove with it <3

   Reply