The Heart in Love

if everything happens that can't be done
(and anything's righter
than books
could plan)
the stupidest teacher will almost guess
(with a run
skip
around we go yes)
there's nothing as something as one

one hasn't a why or because or although
(and buds know better
than books
don't grow)
one's anything old being everything new
(with a what
which
around we come who)
one's everyanything so

so world is a leaf so a tree is a bough
(and birds sing sweeter
than books
tell how)
so here is away and so your is a my
(with a down
up
around again fly)
forever was never till now

now i love you and you love me
(and books are shuter
than books
can be)
and deep in the high that does nothing but fall
(with a shout
each
around we go all)
there's somebody calling who's we

we're anything brighter than even the sun
(we're everything greater
than books
might mean)
we're everyanything more than believe
(with a spin
leap
alive we're alive)
we're wonderful one times one

- e.e. cummings

This poem does not seem like a love poem at first; it seems like a simple comparison between the virtues of the mind and the virtues of the heart. The further you read, however, the more you realize the purpose and subject of the poem. The poem tells of the inability of books and schooling to describe love, or to prepare a person for the joy of being in love. cummings illustrates the beauty of soulful and euphoric love in this work, using indirect imagery and skillful organization that emphasize the freedom and bliss of the heart in love.

The poem begins as if it's about educational systems, contrasting what the mind can analyze versus what the heart can know. Putting this in the context of a romance, however, changes the meaning of the first stanza. "if everything happens that can't be done" implies the act of falling in love: it is everything impossible happening. Both the heart and the mind ("the stupidest teacher") know that "there's nothing as something as one," or there is nothing that is more profound and "something" as another person. The phrases in parentheses show different aspects of the poem's message. (and anything's / righter than books / could plan)" shows, again, that the romance that the speaker is experiencing is greater than the plot of any novel or the analysis of any scholarly book. "(with a run / skip / around we go yes)" evokes an image of two people clasping hands and turning in circles, whooping and laughing. This shows the emotion of the speaker, who feels as free as someone playing like a child.

The poem continues in a similar manner. The second and third stanzas compare love to nature, saying that "(buds know better / than books / don't grow)" and "(birds sing sweeter / than books / tell how)." The speaker is stating that love is always growing and changing into something beautiful, while books never change. The sound of birds is "sweeter" now, because the speaker is in love. This implies that the speaker formerly put a lot of stock in how accurate and trustworthy books were, but now finds that nature and love are much more beautiful than books could ever convey. He says, "forever was never till now," showing that he had no concept of "forever" until he was presented with the idea of spending all that time with the person he loves.

The last two stanzas solidify the purpose and subject of the poem. If there was any doubt as to who the speaker is addressing, it is now clear that he is talking to and about his lover. The ecstasy of the speaker reaches its highest point, taking the reader with him and giving the audience a mood of lightness and euphoria. The second to last stanza sets up the height by starting at a calm and sweet, "now i love you and you love me." "and deep in the high that does nothing but fall / (with a shout / each / around we go all)" makes the mood climb, lending images of birds soaring up, down, and around, and bringing back the image of shouting and twirling lovers. "there's somebody calling who's we" feels as if it is being called out joyfully from the top of a peak. The last stanza is stationary but excited, and tells unequivocally of the love between the two people. The comparisons to nature and the contrasts between books and reality are brought back in the first four lines. The ecstasy and motion returns in the words "(with a spin / leap / alive we're alive)." The last line shows that the speaker and his lover, while both retaining individuality, are one being; this is done with a mathematical metaphor, tying together the use of books and knowledge with the understanding that the heart and soul can experience.

e.e. cummings' love poems are very very dear to me, as I feel that he captures my experience of love better than any other poet does. This poem shows the way that, no matter how much one has read, love is still unlike anything that could be described in words. It shows that euphoria of being loved in return and of feeling that you and your loved one are two individual and unique pieces of the same being. This poem is emotional and visual and influential, and I find it utterly and completely beautiful.