“if i should sleep with a lady called death”
get another man with firmer lips…
Edward Estlin Cummings, more commonly known as E. E. Cummings, was an American poet, painter, essayist, and playwright famed for his innovative use of language and formatting techniques. Born on October 14, 1894, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cummings showed an early interest in poetry and art, a passion that was encouraged by his parents. He pursued his studies at Harvard University, where he was influenced by the emergent modernist movement.
Cummings' literary career truly began to flourish after his experiences in World War I, during which he served as an ambulance driver and later spent time in a French detention camp. His first collection of poems, "Tulips and Chimneys," was published in 1923, and it showcased his characteristic playfulness with form, syntax, and punctuation. Over his lifetime, Cummings wrote approximately 2,900 poems, as well as several plays and essays, and created numerous artworks.
His poetry, often deceptively simplistic, grapples with themes of love, nature, and the complexities of the human experience. Cummings' work was revolutionary for its avant-garde approach to free verse and typographical innovation, influencing a generation of poets. He continued to write and exhibit his paintings until his death on September 3, 1962, leaving behind a legacy of creativity and boundary-breaking art.