[in Just-], E. E. Cummings

E. E. Cummings is regarded as one of the most unique poets ever. His craft is identifiable to almost all readers and his works are easily identifiable.

[in Just-]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS

in Just-

spring          when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman

whistles          far          and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far          and             wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's

spring

and

         the

                  goat-footed

balloonMan          whistles

far

and

wee

As with all E. E. Cummings' poems, the language is extremely unique and can barely be considered language at all. But that unique style serves a purpose and is important to understanding his message. "[in Just-]" is a poem about the first day of spring and the speaker is a man observing the actions that children partake in on this day. In fact, the poem reads as if it is written from a child's perspective. For example, the speaker refers to spring as "mud-luscious." Luscious usually has a positive connotation while mud is not usually considered to be a good thing much less luscious. Also, most children who play in mud do not have the word luscious in their vocabulary.  As a result, it seems that the man has found beauty in the mud by watching "eddieandbill" find joy in it. Similarly, this spring day is "puddle-wonderful." These children see spring as having endless opportunities. In a sense, this invigorates the man with a feeling a youth in the same way the season of spring brings about new life. The speaker admires the innocence these kids have. 

The language in this poem also builds excitement, coincidentally excitement over something the speaker would not find exciting.  The combining of the children's names illustrate children who can barely contain their excitement with spring and seeing the balloonman. They have waited all winter for this moment and cannot keep in their gleeful "wees." The most interesting piece of this poem is the title.  The language in the title is so unique but also so relevant. It creates a scenario in which the eager children ask to go outside and experience the "puddle-wonderful" scene. Before the mother can respond with "in just a few minutes," the children have cut off their mother and have already burst out the door.  E. E. Cummings'  uses a different style in this poem with creative and suggestive words which help to illustrate the scene the speaker is seeing.