'Buffalo Bill's... (XXI)' by e.e. cummings
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Buffalo Bill's
defunctwho used toride a watersmooth-silverstallion
and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethatJesus
he was a handsome manand what i want to know is
how do you like your blueeyed boy
Mister Death
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Buffalo Bill's..." by e.e. cummings: A Criticism and Interpretation
When it comes to American poetry, e.e. cummings is a name that often comes up. And for good reason. Born in Massachusetts in 1894, cummings is known for his experimental and unconventional poetry, which often played with syntax and typography. His poem "Buffalo Bill's..." is no exception.
Overview
"Buffalo Bill's..." is a poem that is both a tribute to Buffalo Bill, the famous American showman, and a commentary on the nature of celebrity and fame. The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and no set rhyme scheme. It is also notable for its use of parentheses, which are used to add additional thoughts and commentary to the poem.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line "Buffalo Bill's defunct," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "defunct" suggests that Buffalo Bill is no longer alive or relevant, and the use of his name in the title only serves to reinforce this idea. However, the poem quickly moves on to describe the various feats that Buffalo Bill accomplished during his lifetime, including his ability to shoot a buffalo from a great distance and his role in the Indian Wars.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of celebrity and fame. The line "how do you like your blue-eyed boy / Mister Death" suggests that even someone as famous as Buffalo Bill is not immune to death. The use of the word "blue-eyed" also suggests that Buffalo Bill was seen as a symbol of American values and ideals, which makes his eventual demise all the more poignant.
The poem also comments on the way in which celebrities are often commodified and turned into products. The line "selling postcards of / the movie version" suggests that even after Buffalo Bill's death, his image and legacy were still being used to make money. The use of the word "movie" also suggests that the speaker sees Buffalo Bill as a larger-than-life figure, one who is more myth than man.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of parentheses. The speaker often uses parentheses to add additional thoughts and commentary to the poem, which can be seen as a way of reflecting on the nature of memory and history. The use of parentheses also emphasizes the way in which the speaker sees Buffalo Bill as a complex and multifaceted figure, one who cannot be reduced to a simple stereotype or caricature.
The poem concludes with the lines "Buffalo Bill / we like you / (and so goodbye)." These lines suggest that even though Buffalo Bill is no longer alive, his legacy and memory still hold value. The use of the word "we" also suggests that the speaker is speaking on behalf of a larger group, perhaps even all of America.
Interpretation
"Buffalo Bill's..." is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of different ways. On one level, it can be seen as a tribute to Buffalo Bill and his accomplishments. On another level, it can be seen as a commentary on the nature of celebrity and fame, and the way in which we often commodify and exploit famous figures.
At its core, however, the poem is about memory and history. The speaker is reflecting on the way in which we remember and commemorate famous figures, and the way in which their legacies can be both positive and negative. By using parentheses to add additional thoughts and commentary, the speaker is also emphasizing the complexity of memory and history, and the way in which we must always be aware of the larger context in which these figures lived.
In the end, "Buffalo Bill's..." is a poem that asks us to think critically about the way in which we remember and celebrate famous figures. It is a poem that reminds us that even larger-than-life figures like Buffalo Bill are ultimately mortal, and that their legacies can be both positive and negative. It is a poem that is both a tribute and a warning, a celebration of the past and a call to action for the future.
Conclusion
"Buffalo Bill's..." is a complex and multifaceted poem that offers both a tribute to Buffalo Bill and a commentary on the nature of celebrity and fame. By using irregular line lengths and parentheses, e.e. cummings is able to capture the complexity of memory and history, and the way in which we remember and commemorate famous figures.
In the end, "Buffalo Bill's..." is a poem that is both timeless and timely, a reminder of the power of memory and the importance of critically examining the legacies of famous figures. It is a poem that asks us to think beyond the surface level of celebrity and fame, and to consider the larger context in which these figures lived. And it is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) by e.e. cummings is a classic poem that captures the essence of the American Wild West and the legendary figure of Buffalo Bill. The poem is a tribute to the larger-than-life persona of Buffalo Bill, who was a famous showman and buffalo hunter in the late 19th century. The poem is written in cummings' signature style, which is characterized by unconventional syntax, punctuation, and capitalization. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the line "Buffalo Bill's defunct" which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "defunct" means no longer existing or functioning, which suggests that Buffalo Bill is no longer alive. However, the use of the word "defunct" also implies that Buffalo Bill was once a powerful and influential figure, but now he is gone. This sets up the central theme of the poem, which is the fleeting nature of fame and the inevitability of death.
The next line, "who used to ride a watersmooth-silver stallion" is a vivid image that conjures up the image of Buffalo Bill riding a majestic horse. The use of hyphens to connect the words "watersmooth" and "silver" creates a sense of fluidity and grace, which is in contrast to the harsh and rugged landscape of the Wild West. This image of Buffalo Bill riding a beautiful horse is a metaphor for his larger-than-life persona and his ability to conquer the untamed wilderness.
The poem then shifts to a more personal tone with the line "and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat." This line is a reference to Buffalo Bill's famous trick-shooting act, where he would shoot at five clay pigeons in rapid succession. The use of the word "justlikethat" emphasizes the speed and precision of Buffalo Bill's shooting, which was a testament to his skill and showmanship. However, the line also suggests that Buffalo Bill's fame was built on his ability to perform these tricks, which were ultimately fleeting and temporary.
The next stanza begins with the line "Jesus he was a handsome man" which is a reference to Buffalo Bill's good looks and charisma. The use of the name "Jesus" is a common colloquialism that emphasizes the speaker's admiration for Buffalo Bill. The line "and what i want to know is" is a rhetorical device that sets up the central question of the poem. The speaker is curious about what happened to Buffalo Bill's fame and legacy after his death.
The next line, "how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death" is a powerful and haunting image that suggests that death is the ultimate equalizer. The use of the word "blueeyed" emphasizes Buffalo Bill's whiteness and privilege, which was a defining characteristic of the Wild West. The speaker is asking Death how he likes to take down powerful and influential figures like Buffalo Bill, which suggests that even the most famous and powerful people are not immune to death.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of fame and the inevitability of death. The line "the earth" is a metaphor for death, which is the ultimate fate of all living things. The line "smells sweet" suggests that death is not necessarily a bad thing, but rather a natural part of life. The line "and silently" emphasizes the quiet and peaceful nature of death, which is in contrast to the loud and chaotic world of the Wild West. The final line of the poem, "moves beneath me like a great dark wave" is a powerful image that suggests the inevitability of death and the transience of life.
In terms of structure, Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) is a free verse poem that does not follow a specific rhyme or meter. However, the poem is structured in a way that emphasizes the central themes of the poem. The first stanza sets up the image of Buffalo Bill as a larger-than-life figure, while the second stanza focuses on his personal qualities. The third stanza asks the central question of the poem, while the final stanza reflects on the fleeting nature of fame and the inevitability of death.
In terms of literary devices, Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) is full of unconventional syntax, punctuation, and capitalization. The use of hyphens to connect words creates a sense of fluidity and grace, while the lack of punctuation creates a sense of urgency and spontaneity. The use of colloquialisms and slang emphasizes the speaker's admiration for Buffalo Bill and his larger-than-life persona. The use of metaphors and imagery creates vivid and powerful images that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
In conclusion, Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) is a classic poem that captures the essence of the American Wild West and the legendary figure of Buffalo Bill. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of fame and the inevitability of death, and it is written in cummings' signature style, which is characterized by unconventional syntax, punctuation, and capitalization. The poem is structured in a way that emphasizes the central themes of the poem, and it is full of literary devices that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. Overall, Buffalo Bill's... (XXI) is a powerful and haunting tribute to a larger-than-life figure who embodied the spirit of the Wild West.
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