Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sonnets - Realities: 4" by E.E. Cummings presents a vivid and grotesque portrayal of a madam at a place known as "Dick Mid's Place," likely a brothel or similar establishment. The poem uses stark and unflattering imagery to describe the madam, highlighting both her physical appearance and the nature of the environment in which she operates. Through this detailed and somewhat surreal description, Cummings critiques the dehumanizing aspects of such settings and the characters that inhabit them.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the experience of arriving at Dick Mid's Place: "when you rang at Dick Mid's Place / the madam was a bulb stuck in the door." The comparison of the madam to a "bulb stuck in the door" suggests that she is both a fixture and a gatekeeper of this establishment, a figure who is almost embedded into the structure itself. This image conveys a sense of entrapment and immobility, as if the madam is as much a part of the environment as the physical building.

The madam's appearance is described in grotesque detail: "a fang of wincing gas showed how / hair, in two fists of shrill colour, / clutched the dull volume of her tumbling face." The "fang of wincing gas" likely refers to a flickering gaslight that illuminates her face, casting harsh and unforgiving light on her features. Her hair is depicted as "two fists of shrill colour," emphasizing its unruly and garish nature. The "dull volume of her tumbling face" suggests that her face is not only unattractive but also lacking in definition, perhaps bloated or misshapen.

Cummings continues to describe the madam's face with further unflattering imagery: "scribbled with a big grin. her soweyes / clicking mischief from thick lids." The "big grin" is not a sign of warmth or friendliness but rather seems exaggerated and insincere, as if forced or habitual. The term "soweyes" dehumanizes her, comparing her eyes to those of a pig, further emphasizing the unattractive and animalistic nature of her appearance. The "clicking mischief from thick lids" suggests a sly, calculating personality, as if the madam is constantly plotting or evaluating those who enter her establishment.

The poem also includes a striking image of the madam's nose: "the chunklike nose on which always the four / tablets of perspiration erectly sitting." This description emphasizes the physical discomfort and perhaps the uncleanliness of the environment. The "four tablets of perspiration" suggest a constant, almost mechanical presence of sweat on her nose, adding to the overall sense of decay and neglect.

The next lines introduce the idea that the madam's demeanor changes based on whether she recognizes the visitor: "-If they knew you at Dick Mid's / the three trickling chins began to traipse / into the cheeks." This indicates that the madam's physicality is fluid, almost as if her appearance can shift or transform when she is familiar with the visitor. The "three trickling chins" emphasize her overweight, sagging features, which seem to move or shift as she recognizes the guest.

The poem concludes with a description of the madam's speech and gestures: "‘eet smeestaire steevensun / kum een, dare ease Bet, an Leelee, an dee beeg wun’ / her handless wrists did gooey severe shapes." The madam's speech is broken and accented, indicating that English may not be her first language, and she introduces the available women—Bet, Leelee, and "dee beeg wun"—in a manner that is both crude and mechanical. The phrase "handless wrists did gooey severe shapes" suggests that her gestures are exaggerated, almost puppet-like, further dehumanizing her and highlighting the grotesque nature of the setting.

"Sonnets - Realities: 4" is a stark and unflinching depiction of a brothel madam, presented through Cummings' characteristic blend of vivid imagery and fragmented language. The poem critiques the dehumanizing and degrading environment of such establishments, where individuals are reduced to mere physical attributes and transactional roles. Through his portrayal of the madam, Cummings explores themes of decay, objectification, and the bleak realities of life in the margins of society. The grotesque and surreal elements of the poem serve to underscore the alienation and disconnection inherent in such settings, leaving the reader with a sense of discomfort and reflection on the darker aspects of human existence.

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