Poem Analysis - Into The Smiting

An Encounter with Overwhelming Force

E.E. Cummings' "Into The Smiting" is a brief but powerful poem that grapples with themes of surrender, destruction, and a strange, almost erotic, fascination with overwhelming force. The tone is initially tense and expectant, shifting to one of willing submission and even desire for annihilation. The poem's brevity and fragmented syntax contribute to its intensity, mirroring the sudden and forceful nature of the described event. It's a poem about willingly, even eagerly, facing something destructive, finding a strange beauty within it.

Themes of Submission and Surrender

One of the poem's main themes is submission to a powerful, destructive force. This is evident in the speaker's acceptance, and even anticipation, of being overwhelmed. Phrases like "i wait the sweet / annihilation of swift / flesh" indicate a willingness to be consumed. The speaker's attempts to "make me stern against / your charming strength" suggest a struggle, but ultimately a capitulation to the allure of the destructive power. The poem transforms a potentially frightening event into an intimate encounter, where the speaker actively participates in their own undoing.

The Annihilator as Object of Desire

The poem also explores the theme of desire intertwined with destruction. The "annihilator" is not portrayed as simply a force of obliteration, but as something enchanting and desirable. The speaker refers to their own "enchanting / leaves," implying a beauty that the annihilator is drawn to, and vice versa. The use of "charming strength" to describe the force suggests a complex relationship where power and allure are linked. This eroticization of destruction is a disturbing yet compelling aspect of the poem. The line "O haste / annihilator / drawing into you my enchanting / leaves" is key because it suggests that the annihilator and the speaker are locked in an embrace.

Symbolism of Nature and Annihilation

The poem utilizes natural imagery to symbolize both vulnerability and the destructive force. The "tree" and "leaves" represent the speaker and their earthly existence, susceptible to the "smiting sky." The sky, in this context, is a symbol of a higher power, perhaps fate, or even a destructive element of nature itself like a storm. The use of "leaves" specifically evokes a sense of fragility and the inevitable cycle of decay. The word "smiting" is a powerful and evocative term, suggesting a forceful, almost divine act of destruction. The image of the tree leaping "stiffened exquisite" before the strike implies a final, beautiful moment of resistance before inevitable demise. It's interesting to consider if the tree's leap is an attempt to escape, or a movement into the annihilator, an offering of itself to this charming and strong entity.

A Final Embrace of Destruction

In conclusion, "Into The Smiting" is a concise yet profound exploration of the human fascination with destruction and surrender. The poem blends themes of vulnerability, desire, and the alluring power of annihilation into a single, intense moment. Cummings' use of fragmented language and vivid imagery creates a sense of urgency and intimacy, inviting the reader to contemplate the complex relationship between the self and the forces that threaten to consume it. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even in the face of destruction, there can be a strange beauty and a willing surrender, a final, desperate embrace.