Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement

Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement

E.E. Cummings, known for his unconventional use of grammar and punctuation, was a poet who truly understood the power of precision in creating movement within his poetry. His unique style, characterized by the absence of capitalization and punctuation, allowed him to manipulate language in a way that was both playful and profound.

In the quote “Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement,” Cummings reveals his admiration for the precision required in both comedy and poetry. Just as a burlesque comedian must carefully craft their jokes and timing to elicit laughter from the audience, Cummings believed that the precise arrangement of words and punctuation in poetry could create a sense of movement and rhythm that would captivate the reader.

Cummings’ poems are often filled with unexpected line breaks, unconventional spacing, and inventive wordplay, all of which serve to create a sense of motion and energy within the text. By breaking free from traditional rules of grammar and punctuation, Cummings was able to infuse his poetry with a sense of spontaneity and playfulness that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

One of Cummings’ most famous poems, “i carry your heart with me(i carry it in,” exemplifies his mastery of precision in creating movement. The poem’s lack of capitalization and punctuation allows the words to flow seamlessly from one line to the next, creating a sense of continuity and fluidity that mirrors the speaker’s deep and abiding love for their beloved.