Poem Analysis - One

Introduction: A Glimpse of Urban Life

E.E. Cummings' poem "One!" offers a fleeting snapshot of urban life, characterized by fragmented images and hushed tones. The poem presents a scene that is both whimsical and slightly unsettling, moving from a playful image of a barber pole to a more somber depiction of tenement life and a drunkard. The poem’s tone shifts from initial lightheartedness to a muted sense of sadness or resignation, capturing a brief moment in the lives of ordinary people. It avoids grand pronouncements and settles for a close-up, almost voyeuristic, look.

The Barber Pole as a Symbol of Ascent and Illusion

The poem opens with a striking image: "the wisti-twisti barber / -pole is climbing." This image of the barber pole immediately introduces a sense of upward movement and perhaps a deceptive promise. The phrase "wisti-twisti" suggests a sense of playfulness but also hints at something being distorted or unreal. The barber pole, traditionally a symbol of community and grooming, is now presented as "climbing," perhaps suggesting an aspiration to something beyond its traditional role. It is presented almost like a cartoon, climbing upwards and promising something that isn’t actually there. Perhaps it is representing the unattainable.

Whispers of Tenement Life: Isolation and Anonymity

The poem then shifts its focus to the inhabitants of the tenements. "people high,up-in / tenements talk.in sawdust Voices." This image evokes a sense of isolation and anonymity. The word "sawdust Voices" is particularly evocative, suggesting voices that are dry, lifeless, and perhaps dulled by hardship. The choice of "sawdust" also carries a hint of artificiality. The word "high" could also refer to the height, or possibly the influence of substances to deal with every-day life.

The Drunkard's Passage: A Shadow of Despair

The final image of "a:whispering drunkard passes" adds another layer to the poem's muted despair. The drunkard represents a figure of social alienation and perhaps self-destruction. The term “whispering” could refer to a form of communicating or a lack of, possibly talking to himself. The positioning of the drunkard at the end leaves a lingering sense of hopelessness, as if the poem is ultimately drawn towards the darker aspects of urban existence. The colon creates a sense of finality, as if to highlight the finality of the drunkard's hopeless state.

Conclusion: A Fragment of Reality

"One!" by E.E. Cummings is a powerful miniature that captures a fleeting moment of urban reality. Through its vivid imagery and fragmented language, the poem evokes a sense of both whimsy and quiet desperation. The barber pole, the tenement dwellers, and the drunkard are all pieces of a larger, more complex picture, reflecting the isolation and anonymity that can exist even within a bustling city. The poem reminds us that in any given moment, lives are unfolding, and those lives may include both dreams and despair.