E. E. Cummings(1894–1962)
anyone lived in a pretty how town
anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.
Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by s n o w a n d stir by still
a n y o n e ' s a n y w a s all to h e r
s o m e o n e s married their e v e r y o n e s
l a u g h e d their cryings a n d did their d a n c e
( s l e e p w a k e h o p e a n d t h e n ) t h e y
said their n e v e r s t h e y slept their d r e a m
stars rain s u n m o o n
( a n d o n l y t h e s n o w c a n b e g i n t o explain
h o w c h i l d r e n are apt t o f o r g e t t o r e m e m b e r
(with up so floating many bells down)
o n e day a n y o n e d i e d i g u e s s
( a n d n o o n e s t o o p e d t o kiss his f a c e )
b u s y folk b u r i e d t h e m side b y side
little by little a n d w a s by w a s
all by all a n d d e e p by d e e p
a n d m o r e by m o r e t h e y d r e a m their s l e e p
n o o n e a n d a n y o n e earth b y april
w i s h by spirit a n d if by yes.
W o m e n a n d m e n ( b o t h d o n g a n d ding)
s u m m e r a u t u m n w i n t e r spring
r e a p e d their s o w i n g a n d w e n t their c a m e
sun moon stars rain