(title after a first line by e.e. cummings)
when you with your nimble
and radiant thoughts
reach into the junkyard of my mind
and there—hiding behind
some old rusty shoulds
and burnt-out what ifs—
you find a small tarnished scrap
of lost perhaps and hold it up
like a treasure, burnish it
with fierce devotion
until even I can see
how it shines.
LOVE this one! Even though I’m not a fan of e.e. cummings 😉
This was one of the first poems I memorized, in fact, for sure, it was–when I was fifteen. Here’s a link to the whole poem, which, yeah, you have to work for a little, but oh, the message http://www.massreview.org/sites/default/files/Cummings.pdf
I DID like e.e.cummings, and I find this a step up from his offerings. The images, the challenges of imagination, all delight me!
oh you … thank you. He’s a hero to me. Glad you like this one– I LOVE his poems. This one especially, and that ending, oh! for once (imagine) you …