Poem Analysis - I Was Considering How

A Cosmic Snack and Sudden Awakening: Initial Impressions

E.E. Cummings' "i was considering how" is a brief yet profound meditation on the universe and our place within it. The poem begins with a sense of quiet contemplation, observing the slow, almost imperceptible consumption of darkness by a star. This serene mood is abruptly shattered by the rude awakening of a shooting star's demise, turning the initial cosmic musings into a jarring encounter with the unexpected. The tone shifts from philosophical curiosity to startled awareness, leaving the reader with a sense of wonder mixed with a touch of the absurd.

Night's Hunger: Themes of Consumption and Transience

One central theme of the poem is consumption, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. The "hungry star" actively "nibbling" at the darkness represents the continuous process of energy exchange in the universe. This connects to a larger theme of transience, as the star itself, despite its seemingly eternal nature, is destined to be "jerked / into / eternity." The poem suggests that everything, even the most luminous and powerful entities, are subject to change and eventual disappearance. This idea also touches upon the theme of mortality, albeit indirectly. While the poem doesn't explicitly discuss human death, the fate of the shooting star serves as a stark reminder of the impermanence of all things.

Starlight and Shrieks: Analyzing Vivid Imagery

The poem's imagery is particularly striking. The image of a "star's / nibbling" is unexpectedly gentle, contrasting with the vastness of the cosmos. It creates a sense of intimacy, as if the speaker is observing a delicate act of consumption. Conversely, the description of the shooting star "Bur      s / (t / into a stale shriek / like an alarm-clock)" is jarring and disruptive. The use of onomatopoeia ("shriek") and simile ("like an alarm-clock") transforms the awe-inspiring spectacle of a shooting star into something mundane and even unpleasant. This contrast between the beautiful and the banal underscores the poem's overall effect.

Symbolism in the Stars

The stars in this poem act as symbols of both the sublime and the ordinary. The first star, slowly "devouring" darkness, represents the vastness of the universe and the gradual, powerful forces at play. It also symbolizes potential and quiet growth. The second star, the shooting star, may symbolize fleeting beauty or sudden, unexpected change. Its "stale shriek" hints at the often-uncomfortable reality behind seemingly glorious events. Is it possible that the poem suggests that even the most spectacular occurrences can be reduced to something quite ordinary upon closer inspection?

A Universe of Contrasts: Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, "i was considering how" is a deceptively simple poem that explores profound themes of consumption, transience, and mortality. Through contrasting imagery and a sudden shift in tone, Cummings reminds us of the constant interplay between beauty and banality, the grand and the mundane, in the universe and within ourselves. The poem's power lies in its ability to capture the wonder of the cosmos while simultaneously grounding it in the familiar experience of a jarring awakening, suggesting that even the most awe-inspiring phenomena are ultimately fleeting and subject to decay.