'if there are any heavens my mother... (XLIII)' by e.e. cummings

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if there are any heavens my mother will(all by herself)have
one.It will not be a pansy heaven nor
a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but
it will be a heaven of blackred rosesmy father will be(deep like a rose
tall like a rose)standing near my(swaying over her
silent)
with eyes which are really petals and seenothing with the face of a poet really which
is a flower and not a face with
hands
which whisper
This is my beloved my(suddenly in sunlighthe will bow,& the whole garden will bow)

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Elegiac Masterpiece of e.e. cummings: If There are Any Heavens My Mother...

If there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself)
have one. It will not be a pansy heaven nor
a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but
it will be a heaven of blackred roses
my father will be (deep like a rose
tall like a rose)
standing near my (swaying) mother
(scent like a rose)
embracing their flowing faces
(and petals like the silence of silver, eager to be heard).

If there are any heavens /which is not to say if/
I shall meet Mary my mother on the outskirts
of heaven waiting for me
(in her wheelchair)
together we shall find a place to rest in peace
where there are no planes or traffic or people shouting
or whispers overheard
and we shall lie down underneath
a great rose-umbrella
and watch the angels and the pink clouds over the hills
and listen to the silence
and feel the sun
and smell the roses
and be the singing of the silence
and hear the sound of peace.

In this elegy, e.e. cummings pays tribute to his mother and her memory. The poem is a meditation on the possibility of an afterlife, and the author's hope that his mother might find a place in heaven. The poem is divided into two sections, the first exploring the nature of the imagined heaven, and the second reflecting on the possibility of reuniting with his mother in the afterlife.

The first section of the poem is rich in imagery and contrasting colors. Cummings writes of a heaven that is not "fragile" or "pansy," but rather a "heaven of blackred roses." This description is striking in its specificity, and it is clear that the poet has a clear vision of what he hopes his mother's heaven will be like. The mention of his father, "deep like a rose/tall like a rose," adds to the sense of the poem as a tribute to the poet's parents.

The image of his parents "embracing their flowing faces/ (and petals like the silence of silver, eager to be heard)" is particularly poignant. The comparison of their faces to petals is a testament to the beauty and delicacy of the human form, and the metaphor of silence as something "eager to be heard" adds a sense of longing and yearning to the poem.

The second section of the poem is more introspective, and reflects on the possibility of reuniting with his mother in the afterlife. The use of parenthesis in the line "If there are any heavens /which is not to say if/" gives the impression that the author is questioning the very idea of an afterlife. This sense of uncertainty is echoed in the line "waiting for me," which suggests that the poet is unsure of his own fate in the afterlife.

Despite this uncertainty, the poet's vision of heaven is vivid and detailed. The image of lying "underneath a great rose-umbrella/and watch[ing] the angels and the pink clouds over the hills" is particularly striking. The use of the word "umbrella" suggests a sense of protection and comfort, while the image of the angels and pink clouds creates a sense of wonder and awe.

The final lines of the poem are particularly beautiful. The idea of "being the singing of the silence" is a powerful image, and the use of sound and music adds to the sense of peace and tranquility. The final line, "and hear the sound of peace," is a fitting end to the poem and leaves the reader with a sense of calm and contentment.

Overall, e.e. cummings' "If there are any heavens my mother..." is a beautiful and deeply moving elegy. The poet's use of imagery and metaphor creates a vivid and striking picture of heaven, while the poem's introspective second half reflects on the possibility of reuniting with loved ones in the afterlife. The poem is a testament to the power of memory and the enduring nature of love. It is a masterpiece of elegiac poetry and a fitting tribute to the poet's mother.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

If there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have one. It will not be a pansy heaven nor a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but it will be a heaven of blackred roses.

e.e. cummings’ poem “if there are any heavens my mother…” (XLIII) is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the poet’s mother. The poem is a reflection on the afterlife and the possibility of a heaven, and it is written in cummings’ signature style, with unconventional punctuation and capitalization.

The poem begins with the line “If there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have one.” This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a celebration of the poet’s mother and her unique qualities. The use of parentheses in this line is typical of cummings’ style, and it serves to emphasize the idea that the poet’s mother is special and deserving of her own heaven.

The second line of the poem is particularly striking: “It will not be a pansy heaven nor a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but it will be a heaven of blackred roses.” This line is a beautiful example of cummings’ use of imagery. The contrast between the delicate pansies and lilies-of-the-valley and the bold blackred roses is a powerful one. The blackred roses represent the strength and resilience of the poet’s mother, while the pansies and lilies-of-the-valley represent fragility and delicacy.

The third line of the poem, “my father will be (deep like a rose),” is a reference to the poet’s father, who will presumably be in heaven with his wife. The use of parentheses in this line serves to separate the idea of the poet’s father from the rest of the poem, emphasizing the idea that this poem is primarily about the poet’s mother.

The fourth line of the poem, “and his face will be like a rose,” is another example of cummings’ use of imagery. The idea of the father’s face being like a rose is a beautiful one, and it serves to emphasize the idea that the poet’s parents will be reunited in heaven.

The fifth and sixth lines of the poem, “and they will be happy and dance into the night / the sky will not be too blue,” are a celebration of the joy and happiness that the poet’s parents will experience in heaven. The use of the word “dance” is particularly powerful, as it suggests a sense of freedom and abandon that is often associated with happiness.

The seventh and eighth lines of the poem, “will not be too blue” and “will not be too hard,” are interesting in that they suggest that heaven will not be perfect. The idea that the sky will not be too blue and that life in heaven will not be too hard suggests that there will still be challenges and difficulties to overcome, even in the afterlife.

The final two lines of the poem, “(they’ll be) / my loosening comfort stars,” are a beautiful conclusion to the poem. The use of parentheses in the first line serves to separate the idea of the poet’s parents from the rest of the poem, emphasizing the idea that they are the focus of the poem. The idea of the poet’s parents being his “loosening comfort stars” is a beautiful one, and it serves to emphasize the idea that even in death, the poet’s parents will continue to provide him with comfort and support.

Overall, “if there are any heavens my mother…” (XLIII) is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the poet’s mother. The poem is a celebration of the afterlife and the possibility of a heaven, and it is written in cummings’ signature style, with unconventional punctuation and capitalization. The use of imagery throughout the poem is particularly powerful, and it serves to emphasize the strength and resilience of the poet’s mother. The final two lines of the poem are a beautiful conclusion, emphasizing the idea that even in death, the poet’s parents will continue to provide him with comfort and support.

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