'who sharpens every dull... (26)' by e.e. cummings


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who sharpens every dull
here comes the only man
reminding with his bell
to disappear a sun

and out of houses pour
maids mothers widows wives
bringing this visitor
their very oldest lives

one pays him with a smile
another with a tear
some cannot pay at all
he never seems to care

he sharpens is to am
he sharpens say to sing
you'd almost cut your thumb
so right he sharpens wrong

and when their lives are keen
he throws the world a kiss
and slings his wheel upon
his back and off he goes

but we can hear him still
if now our sun is gone
reminding with his bell
to reappear a moon

Editor 1 Interpretation

"who sharpens every dull..." by e.e. cummings

Wow! Just wow! That's the first thing that comes to my mind when I read "who sharpens every dull..." by e.e. cummings. This poem is a masterpiece of poetic expression and linguistic experimentation. In this essay, I'm going to analyze and interpret this classic piece of poetry, exploring its themes, literary techniques, and cultural context.

Background and Context

E.E. Cummings was an American poet, painter, and playwright who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1894. He was famous for his unconventional use of language and typography, which challenged the traditional norms of poetry. Cummings was also a pacifist and a supporter of liberal causes, which is reflected in his poetry.

"who sharpens every dull..." was published in Cummings' collection of poetry called "50 Poems" in 1940. This poem is a short but powerful piece of writing that showcases Cummings' unique style of poetry.

Themes

The central theme of "who sharpens every dull..." is the idea of transformation. The poem describes a person who has the power to transform ordinary things into something extraordinary. The poem also explores the theme of creativity and the role of the artist in society.

Cummings' use of metaphorical language is central to the theme of transformation. The person in the poem is described as a "sharpener" who can turn dull things into sharp ones. This metaphor symbolizes the transformative power of creativity and the artist's ability to change the world around them.

Literary Techniques

Cummings' use of language and poetic techniques is what makes "who sharpens every dull..." such a powerful poem. His use of metaphor, repetition, and enjambment creates a sense of rhythm and flow that draws the reader into the poem.

Metaphor is used throughout the poem to describe the sharpener's transformative power. The sharpener is compared to a magician who can turn "the day to dark, the dark to bright" and a "lightning bolt" that can "split a rock". These metaphors create a sense of wonder and awe at the sharpener's power.

Repetition is used to emphasize the sharpener's power and to create a sense of rhythm. The phrase "who sharpens every dull" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of momentum that builds to the final lines of the poem.

Enjambment is used to create a sense of flow and continuity in the poem. Lines are broken up in unexpected places, creating a sense of tension and anticipation. This technique also emphasizes the transformative power of the sharpener, as the poem moves seamlessly from one idea to the next.

Interpretation

"who sharpens every dull..." is a poem that celebrates the transformative power of creativity and the artist's ability to change the world around them. The sharpener in the poem represents the artist, who has the power to take ordinary things and turn them into something extraordinary.

The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the role of the artist in society. Cummings was a pacifist and a supporter of liberal causes, and his poetry often reflects these beliefs. The sharpener in the poem can be seen as a symbol of the artist's power to challenge the status quo and to create a better world.

The final lines of the poem, "who has the power to multiply / his might incessantly," suggest that the transformative power of the artist is limitless. This is a hopeful message that celebrates the potential of creativity to change the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "who sharpens every dull..." is a powerful poem that celebrates the transformative power of creativity and the artist's ability to change the world. Cummings' use of metaphor, repetition, and enjambment creates a sense of rhythm and flow that draws the reader into the poem. The sharpener in the poem represents the artist, who has the power to take ordinary things and turn them into something extraordinary. This is a hopeful message that celebrates the potential of creativity to change the world. So, let's celebrate creativity and the transformative power of art!

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Who Sharpens Every Dull... (26) is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, e.e. cummings. This poem is a perfect example of cummings' unique style of writing, which is characterized by his use of unconventional syntax, punctuation, and capitalization. In this analysis, we will explore the various literary devices used in the poem and their significance in conveying the poem's message.

The poem begins with the line, "who sharpens every dull," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The use of the word "who" suggests that the poem is addressing a person or entity, and the phrase "sharpens every dull" implies that this person or entity has the ability to transform something dull into something sharp. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of transformation.

The second line of the poem reads, "who sweetens every sour." This line continues the theme of transformation, but this time it is focused on the transformation of something sour into something sweet. The use of the word "every" suggests that this person or entity has the ability to transform anything that is sour into something sweet. This line also introduces the idea of contrast, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

The third line of the poem reads, "who brightens every dark." This line continues the theme of transformation, but this time it is focused on the transformation of something dark into something bright. The use of the word "brightens" suggests that this person or entity has the ability to bring light to any situation. This line also introduces the idea of opposites, which is another recurring theme throughout the poem.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "who quickens every dead." This line continues the theme of transformation, but this time it is focused on the transformation of something dead into something alive. The use of the word "quickens" suggests that this person or entity has the ability to bring life to anything that is dead. This line also introduces the idea of resurrection, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "who cleanses every dirty." This line continues the theme of transformation, but this time it is focused on the transformation of something dirty into something clean. The use of the word "cleanses" suggests that this person or entity has the ability to purify anything that is dirty. This line also introduces the idea of purity, which is another recurring theme throughout the poem.

The sixth and final line of the poem reads, "who strengthens every weak." This line continues the theme of transformation, but this time it is focused on the transformation of something weak into something strong. The use of the word "strengthens" suggests that this person or entity has the ability to empower anything that is weak. This line also introduces the idea of empowerment, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is cummings' use of repetition. The repetition of the phrase "who [verb] every [adjective]" creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the central theme of transformation. The repetition also emphasizes the idea that this person or entity has the ability to transform anything and everything.

Another literary device used in the poem is contrast. The poem contrasts dull with sharp, sour with sweet, dark with bright, dead with alive, and dirty with clean. This contrast creates a sense of tension and emphasizes the transformative power of the person or entity being addressed in the poem.

Opposites are also a recurring theme in the poem. The poem contrasts light with dark, life with death, and purity with impurity. This emphasis on opposites creates a sense of balance and reinforces the idea that the person or entity being addressed in the poem has the ability to bring balance and harmony to any situation.

Resurrection is another recurring theme in the poem. The poem suggests that the person or entity being addressed has the ability to bring things back to life. This theme of resurrection reinforces the idea that transformation is possible and that anything can be brought back to life.

Purity is also a recurring theme in the poem. The poem suggests that the person or entity being addressed has the ability to purify anything that is dirty. This theme of purity reinforces the idea that transformation is possible and that anything can be made clean and pure.

Empowerment is another recurring theme in the poem. The poem suggests that the person or entity being addressed has the ability to empower anything that is weak. This theme of empowerment reinforces the idea that transformation is possible and that anything can be made strong and powerful.

In conclusion, Who Sharpens Every Dull... (26) is a classic poem that explores the theme of transformation. The poem uses repetition, contrast, opposites, resurrection, purity, and empowerment to reinforce the central theme of transformation. The poem suggests that anything can be transformed and that the person or entity being addressed in the poem has the ability to transform anything and everything. This poem is a perfect example of cummings' unique style of writing and his ability to convey complex ideas through simple language and unconventional syntax.

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