is 5 - Poetry by e.e. cummings

e.e. cummings’ fourth poetry collection demonstrates his skilled modernist voice and unmatched ability to test the limitations of the English language.

First published in 1926, is 5 contains 88 poems in cummings’ distinctively complex style. Featuring satirical work, many experimental pieces, and several anti-war poems, this volume is a collection of modernist poetry that explores classic poetic themes.

This volume’s title is the first hint of e. e. cummings’ signature grammatical style. In the foreword, he claims that a poet gains advantage from their ‘ineluctable preoccupation with The Verb’. He suggests that poets are able to roam outside the bounds of punctuation and syntax, therefore, where it is indisputably known that ‘two time two is four’, poets are able to explore other possibilities for the sum’s answer, giving the volume its title is 5.

Five sections are featured in this collection, including notable poems such as:

- ‘my sweet old etcetera’

- ‘She being Brand’

- ‘since feeling is first’

Now in a new high-quality edition, is 5 has been proudly republished by Ragged Hand, Read & Co. Books’ specialist poetry imprint. An ideal read for fans of war poetry and cummings’ experimental work.