28. anyone lived in a pretty how town

I really love the poem below, and I have every since reading it in my 10th grade American Lit class. It's the sound of poem--the way cummings can utilize rhyme in every stanza without it feeling bogged down. He flows through lines so well (though there are a few places I stumble when the rhythm seems suddenly off) and I really admire that. I'm trying to read poems like this, that flow so perfectly and feel like poetry at the very essence of it, and hopefully draw inspiration from the way the lines are laid out. Personally, I'm not a rhymer; I havea a friend that does it fairly well and I'm surprised by that every time I read his work, but it just isn't something I've ever felt the urge to employ.

I make a connection to The Odyssey, too, with the "noone" double-meaning; I love literary connections!

anyone lived in a pretty how town
by E. E. Cummings


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 snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain