Edward Estlin (E. E.) Cummings (1894–1962) was a prolific poet famous for his experimental style. Born and raised in an affluent family in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he graduated from Cambridge Latin High School and received both a BA and an MA in English and classical studies from Harvard University. Before the United States entered World War I, Cummings, an avowed pacifist, volunteered as an ambulance driver in France, where he was held for a time in a detention camp—an experience that deepened his distrust of authority. The Enormous Room (1922), his first published work, is a fictional account of his imprisonment, which was followed in 1923 by his first collection of poems, Tulips and Chimneys.

in Just-

Cummings is famous for defying traditional rules of typography, capitalization, and punctuation in pursuit of poetry that is both provocative and whimsical. Originally published in the Dial in May 1920, “in Just-” is a fine example of his iconoclastic style.

in Just-

spring   when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman

5

whistles   far   and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it’s

spring

10

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far   and   wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

15

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it’s

spring

and

the

20

goat-footed

balloonMan   whistles

far

and

wee

(1920)