“Somewhere I have never travelled gladly” by E.E. Cummings

Per.1 Stephanie Castaneda

What the title meant in my opinion…• The poet, E.E. Cummings, would describe a place in his own

words a place he has never been to.

• Turns out I was wrong, the poet describes a person, his lover (muse) in an interesting form and the way he strongly feels abouther.

True meaning behind the poet’s words…1st stanza “somewhere I have never travelled,gladly beyond 

any experience,your eyes have their silence:”• Lines 1st and 2nd

-The poet says he has gone off on adventure to somewhere he hasn’t been to before and he is glad about it. We may think that he is going to describe the place at first but instead we find out he is staring into his lover’s eyes. “in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, 

or which i cannot touch because they are too near”• Lines 3rd and 4th

-the poet is head over heels with this person he is truly in love with. The power of love has taken over the poet’s mind, which drives him wild.

True meaning behind the poet’s words…2nd stanza “your slightest look easily will unclose me 

though i have closed myself as fingers,”• Lines 5th and 6th

-when the poet’s lover opens up he feels comfortable with her because he opens up as well. “you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens 

(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose”• Lines 7th and 8th

-In these lines we think the poet is talking about the girl when he is actually talking about himself opening up.

True meaning behind the poets words…

3rd stanza or if your wish be to close me, i and 

my life will shut very beautifully,suddenly,• lines 9th and 10th

-The poet explains that his lover has complete control over him and that she can make him do what ever she wants. as when the heart of this flower imagines 

the snow carefully everywhere descending; • Lines 11th and 12th - The poet again mentions that no matter what he will continue loving his lover throughout the changing of the seasons.

True meaning behind the poet’s words…

4th stanza “nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals 

the power of your intense fragility:whose texture” • Lines 13th and 14th

-The poet describes that his lover can complete control of him and the world and that her fragility gives her even more power, which is ironic. “compels me with the color of its countries, 

rendering death and forever with each breathing” • Lines 15th and 16th

-The poet warns those who get close to his lover because she holds god-like powers.

True meaning behind the poet’s words…5th stanza “(i do not know what it is about you that closes 

and opens;only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)”

Lines 17-19 -the poet is amazed at the great amount of power his lover

can withold. “nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands”Line 20 -The poet wants to emphasize that no one is as perfect as

his lover.

What figurative language, imagery and sound was seen in the poem…• Simile - closed myself as fingers• Metaphor• Imagery • Allusion -changing of seasons won’t stop the poet from loving his

muse.

Attitude/Tone of the speaker…•The poet write in a serious tone because

his love for his muse is serious and not just some laughing matter.

Shift…•By the third stanza E.E. Cummings says

that if his lover wishes to know how he truly feels about her, he will do so at her request.

•Also, towards the last stanza, Cummings compares his feelings towards his muse to a mystery.

Actual meaning of the title…•E.E. Cummings studied his lover’s eyes

and went on an unknown adventure to discover his lover’s true feelings.

Theme…

•The poet describes his mysterious feeling towards his lover and how it has affected him.

•The feelings of mystery, adventure, and love are what the poet seems to go through in the poem.

Does this poem fit the modernism period?•Yes, because a young person would

usually seek out an adventure and mystery instead of being stuck following rules and cultural beliefs.