Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "1x1 (One Times One): 39," E.E. Cummings reflects on the cyclical nature of knowledge and ignorance, the passage of time, and the relationship between individual experience and collective history. The poem is characterized by its contemplative tone and philosophical musings, as Cummings explores the limitations of human understanding and the transcendent nature of the present moment.

The poem begins with the line "all ignorance toboggans into know / and trudges up to ignorance again," which uses the metaphor of a toboggan ride to illustrate the way human knowledge operates. The image suggests a downward rush into the acquisition of knowledge, only for this understanding to eventually give way to ignorance once more as the process repeats itself. This cyclical journey of knowledge and ignorance highlights the transient nature of what we consider "knowing," and how easily it can slip back into unknowing.

The second part of the opening stanza, "but winter's not forever, even snow / melts; and if spring should spoil the game, what then?" introduces the idea that change is inevitable. Just as winter gives way to spring, so too does ignorance eventually yield to knowledge, and vice versa. The phrase "if spring should spoil the game" suggests that change—while inevitable—can disrupt the established order or the "game" of life. The rhetorical question "what then?" invites the reader to consider the consequences of such disruptions and the fleeting nature of any given state of understanding.

Cummings then shifts focus to history: "all history's a winter sport or three: / but were it five, I'd still insist that all / history is too small for even me; / for me and you, exceedingly too small." Here, history is metaphorically likened to a winter sport, something that is both cyclical and perhaps trivial in the grand scheme of things. Whether history is considered a "sport or three" or even "five," Cummings asserts that it remains "too small" to contain the full experience of the individual—specifically, the poet himself and the reader ("me and you"). This dismissal of history as insufficient to encapsulate individual existence underscores Cummings' belief in the significance of personal experience over collective narratives.

The poem then calls for a rejection of "shrill collective myth," which Cummings instructs to "Swoop... into thy grave." The "shrill collective myth" could represent the dominant cultural or historical narratives that are often loud and insistent but ultimately empty and unsatisfying. By urging these myths to "swoop into thy grave," Cummings suggests that such narratives should be buried, allowing individuals to escape their influence.

The following line, "merely to toil the scale to shrillerness / per every madge and mabel dick and clave," implies that societal expectations and norms, represented by the common names "madge and mabel dick and clave," only serve to amplify the noise and confusion of life without offering true meaning. This critique reflects Cummings' disdain for conformity and the reduction of individuals to mere participants in the collective myth.

The poem concludes with a powerful affirmation of the present moment: "tomorrow is our permanent address / and there they'll scarcely find us (if they do, / we'll move away still further: into now." This closing stanza emphasizes the impermanence of the future ("tomorrow") and the ephemeral nature of human existence. By declaring "tomorrow is our permanent address," Cummings acknowledges that people often live in anticipation of the future, yet the true essence of life can only be found in the present moment ("into now"). The suggestion that "they'll scarcely find us" reflects the idea that true self-awareness and understanding are elusive and constantly shifting.

In summary, "1x1 (One Times One): 39" by E.E. Cummings is a meditation on the limits of knowledge, the cyclical nature of history, and the importance of the present moment. Through its rich metaphors and contemplative tone, the poem encourages readers to look beyond collective myths and societal expectations, focusing instead on the immediacy and transcendence of individual experience. Cummings suggests that while history and knowledge may be small and temporary, the present moment is vast and filled with possibility, offering a space where true meaning can be found.

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