Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "1x1 (One Times One): 15," E.E. Cummings juxtaposes the frantic and self-absorbed nature of human society with the serene and profound simplicity of the natural world. The poem begins with a chaotic scene, capturing the noise and desperation of human activity, and then shifts to a quieter, more contemplative moment, revealing a deeper connection to nature and divinity.

The poem opens with a cacophony of voices: "('fire stop thief help murder save the world' / what world? / is it themselves these insects mean?" This chaotic litany of cries reflects the urgency and self-centeredness of human concerns. Cummings likens humanity to "insects," emphasizing their smallness and insignificance in the grand scheme of things. The phrase "what world?" questions the reality or validity of the world that people are so desperately trying to save, suggesting that their concerns may be trivial or misguided.

The poem then introduces the idea that when "microscopic shriekings" (the loud, insignificant noises of humanity) "shall have snarled / threads of celestial silence huger than / eternity," the very fabric of the universe will be affected by this human noise. The "threads of celestial silence" represent the vast, timeless tranquility of the cosmos, which is being disrupted by humanity's clamor. Despite this disruption, the poem hints at the futility of human efforts, as "men will be saviours / -flop / grasshopper, exactly nothing's soon." The word "flop" conveys the failure or impotence of human attempts to control or save the world, and the reference to a grasshopper emphasizes the insignificance of these efforts in the face of the vastness of time and space.

The poem continues with "scream, all ye screamers, till your if is up / and vanish under prodigies of un." This line suggests that people can scream and protest as much as they want, but ultimately, their cries will fade away ("vanish") and be absorbed by the infinite nothingness ("prodigies of un"). The word "un" here represents negation, emptiness, or the undoing of existence, highlighting the transient and ephemeral nature of human life and concerns.

The poem then shifts to a more tranquil scene, as the mountain speaks: "'have you' the mountain, while his maples wept / air to blood, asked 'something a little child / who's just as small as me can do or be?'" The mountain, personified and capable of speech, represents the natural world, and its question reflects a desire for purpose or meaning, akin to that of a small child. The mountain's "maples wept / air to blood," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the changing seasons or the passage of time, where the trees' leaves fall and return to the earth, symbolizing a cycle of life, death, and renewal.

God's response is a whisper: "god whispered him a snowflake 'yes: you may / sleep now, my mountain' and this mountain slept / while his pines lifted their green lives and smiled." The snowflake, a symbol of purity, individuality, and transience, is God's answer to the mountain's query. It suggests that even something as small and delicate as a snowflake holds significance in the natural order. The mountain is then granted the peace to sleep, symbolizing rest and contentment in its role within the natural world. The image of the pines "lifting their green lives and smiled" conveys a sense of harmony and satisfaction in simply being, contrasting sharply with the earlier chaos of human concerns.

In "1x1 (One Times One): 15," Cummings contrasts the frantic, self-important behavior of humanity with the quiet, dignified existence of nature. The poem critiques the triviality of human concerns and the noise that disrupts the "celestial silence," ultimately affirming the value of simplicity, natural beauty, and the deep, quiet wisdom of the natural world. Cummings suggests that while humanity is often caught up in its own noise and chaos, true peace and understanding can be found in the natural world's quiet acceptance of its place in the universe.

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