poems with unconventional punctuation and capitalization, and unusual

line, word, and even letter placements - namely, ideograms. Cummings'

most difficult form of prose is probably the ideogram; it is extremely

terse and it combines both visual and auditory elements. There may be

sounds or characters on the page that cannot be verbalized or cannot

convey the same message if pronounced and not read. Four of Cummings'

poems - l(a, mortals), !blac, and swi( - illustrate the ideogram form

quite well. Cummings utilizes unique syntax in these poems in order to

convey messages visually as well as verbally.

Although one may think of l(a as a poem of sadness and

loneliness, Cummings probably did not intend that. This poem is about

individuality - oneness (Kid 200-1). The theme of oneness can be

derived from the numerous instances and forms of the number '1'

throughout the poem. First, 'l(a' contains both the number 1 and the

singular indefinite article, 'a'; the second line contains the French

singular definite article, 'le'; 'll' on the fifth line represents two

ones; 'one' on the 7th line spells t

against white" could be indicating life death versus life. It shows

ground. The lines' spacing synchronizes the speed of the reading with

theme of oneness. In fact, the whole poem is shaped like a '1' (200).

and 12 respectively, show a sort of back-and-forth motion, much like

E. E. Cummings (see Works Cited). In it, he wrote, "for me, this poem

Some topics in this essay:
E Cummings, Cummings Cited, Circle Life, falling leaf, black white, e cummings, Robert Wenger, attain special type, special type immortality, hidden meaning, circle life, cummings written, special type, type immortality, individuality oneness, attain special,