the bigness of cannon is skilful, by E.E. Cummings
Analysis
Roupy is an area in northern France which is full of cemeteries from WWI dead and where Cummings served. During this time, he was suspected as a German spy and was kept in one room full of 30 other soldiers (which led to his prose work, The Enormous Room). Knowing this, it is easy to see where Cummings is coming from when writing this poem.
"the bigness of cannon is skilful," is about the horrors of wars and what it does to people. He's seen "noiseless boys", "fists of huger silence" by animals that are "long talkative", and people hide in poppies hoping to not be seen. Furthermore, the girls who would normally seek out boyfriends are left alone.
Poem
the bigness of cannon is skilful, the bigness of cannon is skilful, but i have seen death's clever enormous voice which hides in a fragility of poppies. . . . i say that sometimes on these long talkative animals are laid fists of huger silence. I have seen all the silence full of vivid noiseless boys at Roupy i have seen between barrages, the night utter ripe unspeaking girls. Published in The Dial, January 1920.
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Find out more information about this poem and read others like it.
Nationality
American
Literary Movement
Modernism, 19th Century
Subjects
War, Death
Find out more information about this poem and read others like it.
Nationality
American
Literary Movement
Modernism, 19th Century
Subjects
War, Death