This is the most moving poem I have ever read. I love it. When I first discovered it I read it to my friends over and over, one friend at a time. One friend simply said, "Poignant." Yeah. That's what it is. It captures the essence of everything I try to be and why I try so hard. Virtue; innocence; it's everything. It makes every other nobility, admirable quality, or sacred feature possible. It must come first. It lays the foundation. It is the shining diamond in a very, very weary world. This poem makes me contemplate repentance, the atonement, restitution, resurrection. E.e. Cummings was a genius. I cannot tell you how his words stir my soul. Please enjoy this little window into innocence.
Cummings
who were so dark of heart they might not speak,
a little innocence will make them sing;
teach them to see who could not learn to look
--from the reality of all nothing
will actually lift a luminous whole;
turn sheer despairing to most perfect gay,
nowhere to here, never to beautiful:
a little innocence creates a day.
And something thought or done or wished without
a little innocence, although it were
as red as terror and as green as fate,
greyly shall fail and dully disappear--
but the proud power of himself death immense
is not so as a little innocence.
4 comments:
As I look at this poem and I connect with it a bit more it makes me want to analyze.
Where it says, "who were so dark of heart they might not speak, a little innocence will make them sing;" I think of how a feeling of loss or disappointment, perhaps in one's self, perhaps after doing something wrong or living wrong for an extended period of time even, and the darkness that inevitably follows, and how that darkness numbs us or makes us dull and quiet or scared and quiet, or just alone; and then the innocence; a return to simplicity and purity and how bright and clean and hopeful that is and feels. Beautiful. One can go from shrinking to singing! That's the power of innocence.
"teach them to see who could not learn to look..." This makes me think of how people often cannot see things, even things that are right in front of them, because their judgment is clouded and their aims have been twisted by selfishness, lust, greed, or any other such illusion. They are blind to the true beauty found in pure things, in real things. The senses have been spoiled by decadence and the system is sick with want, wanting to be clean but craving the unclean. Only innocence can then come in and remove that want, replacing it with reality, much more calm, far less demanding. Suddenly we can see again.
"from the reality of all nothing will actually lift a luminous whole; turn sheer despairing to most perfect gay, nowhere to here, never to beautiful: a little innocence creates a day." This is glorious! In life, we can feel heavy with grief and despair. Things can look bleak and then, innocence/virtue/righteousness will conquer all of it! "nowhere to here" makes me think of how I often feel like certain things are impossible for me, certain things will never ever come, etc. But no! The 'nowhere' will become the here and now, someday, with innocence, it will happen and it will be real and it will stay and it will be mine, at last. What I think of is a family, my own family, and how dearly I want that dream and how miraculous and far fetched such a precious dream seems, and how I dare not expect something so perfect and beautiful, because the sting of the fear of never ever realizing it is so painful. Ah, "nowhere to here, never to beautiful". Some things seem impossible. With innocence they become not only possible but certain! It engenders a profound faith and hope.
"and something thought or done or wished without a little innocence, although it were as red as terror and as green as fate, grely shall fail and dully disappear" These are perhaps my favorite lines. I am often beset with fears relating to the temptations of the world winning somehow. For example, I often think to myself, how can I compete with women who are willing to compromise themselves? They offer things I cannot, and the things they offer are powerful things. This reminds me that even powerful things "as red as terror and as green as fate" are in fact no match for innocence. I wrote in my journal once about the virtuous woman and said of her, "No one is more dearly loved, more readily trusted, and more sincerely honored and respected." I believe that. Those 'powerful' women are using their powers the wrong way, and their powers are limited and only work for a short time.
"but the proud power of himself death immense is not so as a little innocence" This speaks to me. Even if I die before I realize my sweetest dreams, they will come to me, if only through a little innocence.
Thanks my genius daughter! I appreciated your interpretation of this moving poem. Dad
Great poem, K. Every time I read this, I think of Book People and how it was that you first introduced me to it.
Without question, my favorite part is the second stanza:
"will actually lift a luminous whole; / turn sheer despairing to most perfect gay, / nowhere to here, never to beautiful: / a little innocence creates a day."
I like the idea of transformation. It speaks to me. And I think Cummings was right on the mark: innocence innately has the ability to transform "nowhere to here, never to beautiful." That is the sort of truth that helps people. It has certainly helped me.
Points well taken. I feel for you and all humanity.
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