maggie and milly and molly and may
by e. e. cummings
by e. e. cummings
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and
milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and
may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.
************************************
This is one of my favorite summer poems and it just happens to be by one of my favorite poets, e.e. cummings, whose poems I often share here. I post it for those of you who haven't read it. It's lyrical and fun and just plain perfect.
I don't know anyone who doesn't love the sea. I've been to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, but I've never been to the West Coast to see the Pacific Ocean. I hope to one day before I die. There's just something healing about the sea and the beach, standing on the edge of the land and looking out into that vast body of water. For some reason it brings to mind the first few sentences in a fabulous book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston:
"Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men."
It's a fabulous book if you're looking for something good to read. LOL! See, life is just this big cross reference where one book or poem leads to another and on and on. I love it!!
It's been a nice, stormy day here in the swamps with lots of much needed rain. It's cooler, but the mosquitoes are doing tiny little happy dances because of all the water they now have to lay eggs in. It's always something, right?
I'm not complaining, though. I love the cooler weather. It's pretty sad when 90 degrees is a cool spell! Let me head back to my books. I hear them calling me---
Hugs, Love, & Blessings,
~*~Marion~*~
"The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." ~Isak Dinesen
"The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out. " ~Annie Dillard
10 comments:
Hello Marion! I love this e.e. cummings poem, too. You always find the most interesting poems and quotes, so it's always such a pleasure to visit you.
Glad to hear the weather has cooled off a bit and you've had some needed rain. I just noticed the picture of the hummingbird moth on your sidebar. We have them, or something very similar, in our garden sometimes. Only we've always just called it a "Chuckbug" ever since we first saw one when my kids were still very little. They came up with the name and thought is was perfect. Such little goofs they were!
:0)
Thanks for your recent comments on my posts. I'm always happy when you stop by for a visit.
:0)
Hugs,
Angela
Okay.... another revelation about myself: I don't like the ocean or the beach! You'll be happy to know that despite my dislike, I did make sure my kids were exposed to it at least once.
Fun poem!
Hey, Angela! Isn't this poem just awesome? That's a hoot about the 'Chuckbug'. When I saw my first Sphinx Moth (the true name), I thought it was a drunk Hummingbird because it flew so erratically and kinds of buzzed around, also like a Hummingbird, so I began calling it a Hummingbird Moth. After researching it, I found the real name. They're a bugger to photograph because they move fast and I have to fight the mosquitoes to get the shots! But they're so beautiful with their pink-striped selves! Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your artistic blog! Blessings!!
Okay Kelly, confess: is it the sand that gets in everything, the salt, the vastness or the sea monsters that keep you from liking the beach? LOL! Just wondering why you don't like it. Sign me: Nosy and Curious!!
What a great, fun poem...the sea is an amazing beast of life--currently working on a piece (well, trying to download anyway...silly computer stuff) with thoughts of the lovely ocean...and that is what it is lovely. Thanks for sharing! (and I agree, that book is a great read)!
Marion- now you're talking my language! I'll have to check out that book and what a great poem! thanks. No. buns not cute. That's what you're for! ~rick
Kay, glad you enjoyed the poem. I've been wanting to post it for a while and kept forgetting about it until I stumbled across it in my files. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on the ocean. Blessings!
Rick, I should have guessed you'd be an ocean man, what with you being a river person and all. Are you a water sign? I'm a crab, so therein lies the tale. Don't believe you about the buns. You always make me smile. Love & Blessings, dear friend....
Marion. Nope. taurus. stubborn. So stubborn that I rebel and claim the water sign. And back atcha dear friend!~rick
What a beautiful beach picture! Hugs. Q
It's actually a combination of things, Marion. I don't like sand (and how it follows you home in everything you have). I especially don't like being in water with other living things. For that same reason I never liked being in lakes and rivers (even though I spent half my growing up at the river in the summer). Give me a swimming pool any day in the week!!
Post a Comment