e.e. cummings/ Rilke

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Sat, 2003-12-27 04:28

No one really mentions the similiarity between these two writers, nor mentions the fact that when e.e. cummings says, "Not even rain, has such small fingers" in SOMEWHERE I HAVE NEVER TRAVELLED GALDLY BEYOND ANY EXPERIENCE, he could very well be speaking of Raina Maria Rilke.

Woody Allen tosses out this idea in "Husbands and Wives" and in Hannah and her sisters, but it is never expanded upon... the simple fact that bisexuals love boyish women, and that bisexual women find the mature male (the hairy male) somewhat repulsive. It is as if bisexuals cannot love the idea of maturity and therefore, stay within a realm of dynamic, emotional immaturity so that their darkness, theri hostility toward the world and even culture, and their love of the oneness, the om of nature. may not be broken which helps us preserve our youth.

Somewhere i have ne'er travelled, gladly beyond all experience could be the beginning of a homsexual fantasy with the no longer living Rilke via time, remembered time, through the halls of lost time, and the silence of the eyes, the buds opening as spring opens itself, only revealing itself when it is truly, madly, lovely ready to be seen.

Mon, 2004-05-24 00:15

Patrick

In "Somewhere i have never travelled, galdly beyond" ,in the last stanza, I beleive "the voice" is the attribute of "eyes" and "deeper" is the quality of "roses", but I do not know how to interpret it. Any response is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Patrick.

Mon, 2004-05-24 21:01

Steven

"the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses/ no one, not even rain has such small hands." I suppose that the "hands of rain" are the buds of roses... not even rain has such small hands as the budding hands of roses. One calls the center of the eyes "pupils." I am supposing that pupils are also a term that refers to flowers, perhaps developing flowers. Of course, I am just guessing. The voice of your eyes... eyes are also like the buds of a rose... identities. "i"s, in the plural. The self is seen as being composed of many "i"s that flower out of a voice. The Voice is the root of the eyes or identities and as such, it is the self. The self is deeper than the composite form of all the roses... the eyes. Of course, this is only a formal interpretation of the text. It may have been sent to a woman or a man or even a boy for all I know. Its title, "Somewhere I have ne'er travelled gladly beyond" implies a trespass, does it not into a new realm perhaps?

Sat, 2003-12-27 21:17

Hen

Haven't read any Cummings, but this is an intriguing idea. The middle paragraphs somewhat troublesome for me though, because of the generalisations - first of all, I'd never heard that 'simple fact' about bisexuals, and I'm not sure it could ever be proved as a fact. Secondly, I'm not sure to what degree the 'hairy' male can be classified as the 'mature' male. Isn't hairiness to do with an over-production of a certain hormone, that also results in a greater likelihood of balding? Isn't it true, also, that men reach sexual maturity in their late teens, a time when most still look pretty boyish? I can't see that there's anything 'unheterosexual' about women being more attracted to 'boys', anymore than there is about men being attracted to 'girls' - in fact, it seems quite aggressively heterosexual, almost predatory. So, ultimately, I don't see the link between maturity and hairiness. The argument breaks down there - and I'm also not sure about the 'hostility towards the world' bit. What has this to do with bisexuality?

Tue, 2003-12-30 11:50

Steve

I think that all men should be depiliated. My prejudices against the hairy male run long deep into the history of mankind since I shave even when my mustache does not grow. It's sad that I being virtually hairless should be struck with the title of "boy" for the rest of my life. Ah poor me... I'm 31 and i am very sick of being looked on with an Orientalist eye as a mere boy, marked forever thus with the title of immaturity.

Wed, 2003-12-31 11:17

Hen

Well, I look very boyish myself. Don't worry - Germaine Greer likes us.

Wed, 2004-02-04 03:32

Rey Anne Defeo

I relly like the poem Somewhere I Have Never Travelled....i heard this poem as the background of the song The First Time I Love Forever. it was so nice to hear specially when im in love.Actually i only got the stanza when i accidentally browse an old book and suddenlly got an eye to this poem.

Fri, 2004-02-13 10:12

hovis

I dont know much of e e cummings but I love Rilke - so will go look up thx for tip.

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