4:33am September 27, 2014

“

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

”

E. E. Cummings

I’m definitely May, in this one.  "a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone".

My other favorite line, “for whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves that we find in the sea.”

But that smooth round stone… wow.  That would be me, and as long as I live I will be in awe of E. E. Cumming’s ability to use words to amazing effect.  (Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town amazes me because the words make no sense but you can totally see what’s happening.  That takes talent, even genius.)

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone

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