Poem Analysis - Six

A Dance of Numbers and Senses

E.E. Cummings's "Six" is a poem that feels less like a straightforward narrative and more like a sensory experience. It's a fragmented, almost dreamlike exploration of presence and absence, light and dark. The poem's tone is initially mysterious and slightly melancholic, revolving around a sense of confinement. However, as the poem progresses, a sense of movement and vibrancy emerges, transitioning into a fiery, unified climax.

The Dance of Creation: Themes of Transformation and Unity

One prominent theme is transformation. The poem presents a shifting landscape where numbers morph into experiences: six individuals become dancers, singers, and eventually, fire. This metamorphosis suggests a fluidity of being and the potential for change within a seemingly static environment. The progression also highlights the theme of unity. The initial separation of the "six" gradually dissolves, culminating in the line "all five are one," implying a synthesis of individual elements into a single, powerful entity. A final theme touched upon is duality. This is seen in the contrast between dark/light, earth/sky, and male/female. These oppositions are not necessarily conflicting; instead, they appear to be complementary forces contributing to the overall dynamism of the poem.

Symbolism of Light, Darkness, and Flowers

The symbols within "Six" are rich and multi-layered. The "room's dark" acts as a potent symbol of confinement or perhaps the unknown. It represents the initial state of being, shrouded in mystery and separation. In contrast, the colors "red" and "white" introduce an element of visual contrast. Red, often associated with passion and energy, could represent the life force within the unified "one" or fire. White, traditionally linked to purity and peace, might symbolize the harmony achieved through this unification. The "five flowers" are a particularly evocative image. Flowers frequently symbolize beauty, fragility, and the ephemeral nature of life. Here, they could represent the individual elements that, when combined, ignite into the consuming "fire."

Burning Away to Singularity

The poem employs vivid imagery to create its distinctive atmosphere. The phrase "faces made of cloud" evokes a sense of ethereality and otherworldliness. It suggests that the dancers and singers are not grounded in reality but exist in a more imaginative or spiritual realm. Similarly, "voices made of earth" creates a grounded and powerful sense of connection to the physical world, providing a grounding force for the clouds. The final image of "fire" is especially compelling. It's a symbol of intense energy, transformation, and purification. The question of whether the final "fire" is destructive or generative is left open for interpretation, offering a potentially transformative shift in tone for the reader.

A Fiery Conclusion: From Separation to Synthesis

In conclusion, "Six" is a poem that invites multiple readings. Through its fragmented language, evocative imagery, and shifting tones, Cummings explores themes of transformation, unity, and duality. The journey from a "room's dark" to a unifying "fire" is a potent metaphor for the potential within seemingly disparate elements to coalesce into a powerful and singular entity. The poem’s fragmented construction mirrors the individual components before they unify, and underscores the finality of the line "all five are one" by providing such a jarring contrast.