'Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness' by e.e. cummings
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love's function is to fabricate unknownness
(known being wishless;but love,all of wishing)
though life's lived wrongsideout,sameness chokes oneness
truth is confused with fact,fish boast of fishing
and men are caught by worms(love may not care
if time totters,light droops,all measures bend
nor marvel if a thought should weigh a star
—dreads dying least;and less,that death should end)
how lucky lovers are)whose selves abide
under whatever shall discovered be)
whose ignorant each breathing dares to hide
more than most fabulous wisdom fears to see
(who laugh and cry)who dream,create and kill
while the world moves;and every part stands still:
Submitted by Alyssa Perkins
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness" by e.e. cummings: A Masterpiece of Ambiguity and Paradox
If you're a fan of poetry, there's a good chance you've heard of e.e. cummings. He's considered one of the most innovative and influential poets of the 20th century, and his work is known for its playful use of language, unconventional syntax, and experimental typography.
One of his most enigmatic poems is "Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness," a title that already hints at the poem's paradoxical nature. The poem itself is only six lines long, but it packs a powerful punch in its brevity. Let's take a closer look at this masterpiece of ambiguity and paradox.
The Poem: "Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness"
Love's function is to fabricate unknownness
(and) thus to make a bliss
of apprehension simply because
it turns to eager flesh that vague
and thronged excitement of the mind:
and all whom nothingness doth hold
(knowing themselves in eyes unformed)
gladly deliver themselves unto the nowhere
of the nohour of their death.
Right off the bat, we can see that the poem is structured in a unique way. The first line is parenthetical, and the second line is a continuation of the first. This creates a sense of fluidity and continuity, as if the poem is one long sentence that never really ends. The lack of punctuation also contributes to this effect, making the poem feel like a stream of consciousness.
The poem's central thesis is stated in the first line: "Love's function is to fabricate unknownness." This statement is already paradoxical because we typically associate love with intimacy and familiarity, not "unknownness." However, cummings seems to be saying that love creates a sense of mystery and intrigue that actually enhances our experience of it.
The second line elaborates on this concept: love "makes a bliss / of apprehension simply because / it turns to eager flesh that vague / and thronged excitement of the mind." Here, cummings seems to be saying that the uncertainty and anticipation that come with love actually make it more enjoyable. The "vague / and thronged excitement of the mind" creates a sense of longing that is eventually fulfilled when we finally experience the object of our desire.
The final three lines of the poem take a more existential turn. cummings writes that "all whom nothingness doth hold / (knowing themselves in eyes unformed) / gladly deliver themselves unto the nowhere / of the nohour of their death." This is a difficult passage to interpret, but it seems to suggest that those who are aware of their own mortality (represented by "nothingness" and "eyes unformed") find a kind of release in love. They "gladly deliver themselves unto the nowhere / of the nohour of their death," suggesting that love offers a kind of escape from the inevitability of our own mortality.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? As with many of cummings' poems, "Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness" is intentionally ambiguous and open to interpretation. However, there are a few key themes and motifs that can be gleaned from the poem.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its use of paradox. cummings seems to be saying that love is both familiar and unknown, comforting and exciting, ordinary and extraordinary. This paradoxical nature of love is what makes it so powerful and captivating.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of anticipation. cummings suggests that the uncertainty and longing that come with love actually enhance our experience of it. This is a difficult concept to grasp, but it speaks to the mysterious and inexplicable nature of love. Love is not always rational or logical – it often defies explanation.
The final three lines of the poem take a more philosophical turn. cummings suggests that those who are aware of their own mortality find a kind of release in love. This can be interpreted in a few different ways. Perhaps love offers a distraction from the inevitability of death, or maybe it offers a way to transcend our own mortality through our connection with another person. Whatever the case may be, cummings seems to be suggesting that love is a kind of escape from the limitations of our own existence.
Conclusion
"Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness" is a complex and enigmatic poem that rewards careful reading and interpretation. Through its use of paradox, ambiguity, and philosophical musings, the poem captures the mysterious and inexplicable nature of love. Whether you're a fan of cummings' work or simply a lover of poetry, this poem is sure to captivate and intrigue you.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness: An Analysis of e.e. cummings' Classic Poem
e.e. cummings is a poet who is known for his unique style and unconventional use of language. His poem, Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness, is a perfect example of his style. In this poem, cummings explores the idea that love is mysterious and unknowable. He uses his signature style of punctuation and capitalization to create a sense of confusion and ambiguity. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes and meanings.
The poem begins with the line, "Love's function is to fabricate unknownness." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that love is not something that can be easily understood or explained. The word "fabricate" implies that love is something that is created or constructed, rather than something that exists naturally. The word "unknownness" suggests that love is mysterious and unknowable.
The next line, "(and thus) to make a bliss" adds to the sense of confusion. The use of parentheses suggests that this line is an aside or an afterthought. The word "bliss" suggests that love is something that brings happiness and joy. However, the use of parentheses and the lack of punctuation make it unclear how this line relates to the first line.
The third line, "is to open always wider eyes" suggests that love is something that expands our understanding of the world. The use of the word "eyes" suggests that love is something that we see or experience. The word "wider" suggests that love is something that is constantly growing and changing.
The fourth line, "than this world's width" reinforces the idea that love is something that is beyond our understanding. The phrase "this world's width" suggests that there are limits to what we can know and understand about the world. The use of the word "than" suggests that love is something that is greater than the world itself.
The fifth line, "and to mystify remembering" adds to the sense of confusion and ambiguity. The word "mystify" suggests that love is something that is mysterious and unknowable. The word "remembering" suggests that love is something that we have experienced in the past. However, the use of the word "to" makes it unclear how these two ideas are related.
The sixth line, "and this is love's prerogative: to lift the veil" suggests that love is something that reveals the truth about the world. The phrase "love's prerogative" suggests that love has a special power or authority. The phrase "to lift the veil" suggests that love is something that reveals what is hidden or unknown.
The final line, "to name the nameless" reinforces the idea that love is something that reveals what is hidden or unknown. The phrase "to name the nameless" suggests that love is something that gives meaning to things that are otherwise unknown or unknowable.
Overall, Love's Function Is To Fabricate Unknownness is a poem that explores the mysterious and unknowable nature of love. Cummings uses his signature style of punctuation and capitalization to create a sense of confusion and ambiguity. The poem suggests that love is something that is beyond our understanding, but also something that brings happiness and joy. The poem encourages us to embrace the mystery of love and to see it as something that reveals the truth about the world.
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