Read the poem, “when serpents
bargain for the right to squirm” by E.E. Cummings and write an essay in which
you discuss how Cummings uses the poetic devices to complement the theme of his
poem. Pay special attention to figurative language, structure, diction, and
syntax. Feel free to include any
knowledge you may have the author or the time period in which he is writing.
when serpents bargain for the
right to squirm
and the sun strikes to gain a living wage -
when thorns regard their roses with alarm
and rainbows are insured against old age
when every thrush may sing no new moon in
if all screech-owls have not okayed his voice
- and any wave signs on the dotted line
or else an ocean is compelled to close
when the oak begs permission of the birch
to make an acorn - valleys accuse their
mountains of having altitude - and march
denounces april as a saboteur
then we'll believe in that incredible
unanimal mankind (and not until)
and the sun strikes to gain a living wage -
when thorns regard their roses with alarm
and rainbows are insured against old age
when every thrush may sing no new moon in
if all screech-owls have not okayed his voice
- and any wave signs on the dotted line
or else an ocean is compelled to close
when the oak begs permission of the birch
to make an acorn - valleys accuse their
mountains of having altitude - and march
denounces april as a saboteur
then we'll believe in that incredible
unanimal mankind (and not until)
Tips:
- Include a thesis/POA at the end of your
introduction.
- Tie to your POA and thesis in every topic
sentence.
- Cite specific lines of the poem to support your
POA/thesis for each body paragraph
- Don’t use: “I” statements such as: I believe or I
think. Similarly, don’t use second person “you.”
