“turns out i’m not real / just something you paid for / what was i made for?”

[larryhammer]

For Poetry Monday, another e.e. cummings sonnet:

i like my body when it is with your, e. e. cummings

i like my body when it is with your
body.    It is so quite new a thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body.    i like what it does,
i like its hows.    i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones,and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss,    i like kissing this and that of you,
i like,slowly stroking the,shocking fuzz
of your electric fur,and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh....And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new


First published as number XXIV in the section “Sonnets—Actualities” in his 1925 collection &. Yes, that “love-crumbs” always makes me giggle. I like it anyway.

---L.

Subject quote from What Was I Made For?, Billie Eilish.

Comments

[thawrecka]

This has always been one of my favourites of Cummings' work.

[larryhammer]

And mine.

[mekare]

Thank you for sharing, this is beautiful. I looked for some background information and found the poem on allpoetry.com. Had to laugh at some of the comments ("Keep writing" etc.) and facepalm at the ai-generated "analysis" : The speaker explores the physical details of their lover's body, from their muscles and nerves to their bones and fur.

[larryhammer]

💀