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Looking for a poem

 
 
mcsalsa
 
Reply Sat 19 Jul, 2003 04:36 am
I've heard of this poem, but I can't seem to find the title or author. I was wondering if anybody could help. 'It's the word loneliness, with the words "a leaf falls" put in the middle. The letters are all falling down, and at first you don't realize what it says.' If anyone can help me, that would be great. It's for a friend actually. Thanks already!
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cavfancier
 
  1  
Reply Sat 19 Jul, 2003 05:16 am
Sounds like e.e. cummings

1(a... (a leaf falls on loneliness)
e.e. cummings

1(a

le
af
fa
ll

s)
one
l

iness
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cavfancier
 
  1  
Reply Sat 19 Jul, 2003 05:19 am
Thought this might be helpful as well:

"Although one may think of l(a as a poem of sadness and
loneliness, Cummings probably did not intend that. This poem is about
individuality - oneness (Kid 200-1). The theme of oneness can be
derived from the numerous instances and forms of the number '1'
throughout the poem. First, 'l(a' contains both the number 1 and the
singular indefinite article, 'a'; the second line contains the French
singular definite article, 'le'; 'll' on the fifth line represents two
ones; 'one' on the 7th line spells the number out; the 8th line, 'l',
isolates the number; and 'iness', the last line, can mean "the state
of being I" - that is, individuality - or "oneness", deriving the
"one" from the lowercase roman numeral 'i' (200). Cummings could have
simplified this poem drastically ("a leaf falls:/loneliness"), and
still conveyed the same verbal message, but he has altered the normal
syntax in order that each line should show a 'one' and highlight the
theme of oneness. In fact, the whole poem is shaped like a '1' (200).
The shape of the poem can also be seen as the path of a falling leaf;
the poem drifts down, flipping and altering pairs of letters like a
falling leaf gliding, back and forth, down to the ground. The
beginning 'l(a' changes to 'le', and 'af' flips to 'fa'. 'll'
indicates a quick drop of the leaf, which has slowed by a longer line,
'one'. Finally, the leaf falls into the pile of fallen leaves on the
ground, represented by 'iness'. Cummings has written this poem so
perfectly that every part of it conveys the message of oneness and
individuality."
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mcsalsa
 
  1  
Reply Sun 20 Jul, 2003 04:50 am
wow. I would never have seen that, as a leaf falling. Thanks for sharing and also for helping me out. I don't understand a lot from the explanation so I will save it just in case more life experience will help me see.
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