So, once upon a time, I knew a girl who longed for a boy who would read her e.e. cummings. And, for awhile, that made ME long for a boy who would read ME e.e. cummings.

When I was older, and more practicality than romance ran through my veins, I simply TOLD a boy who was on his way to making a serious commitment that I used to love the idea of reading e.e. cummings with a boy. No need to hint, right? What's hotter than a man who declared he would capitalize and punctuate when he damn well wanted to capitalized and punctuate?

It never happened.

This boy used to sing me country songs with a romantic flare, but no e.e. cummings. But does "Hey, good lookin'? What you got cookin'?" compare with:

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,
my darling)i fear no fate
(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,
my true)and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Or with:

i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite new a thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you
,i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh ... And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you so quite new


No, no, I think we can all see that it doesn't compare. And now, I'm afraid, the moment has almost passed...