Only the snow can begin to explain

I was put in mind of this piece - perhaps my favourite of all Cummings's work - by yesterday's poetic exchanges on The Barstool with one of my translator buddies. I generally disparage the lack of flexibility or precision that seems to afflict the Chinese language as a result of its limited grammar and vocabulary, and in particular the impenetrable ambiguities that can often arise through the same word/character being able to serve as noun and verb (or adjective), and sometimes indeed as different words with quite dissimilar meanings. However, in poetry at least, this blurring of grammatical boundaries can sometimes work a certain charm. Such playful reinvention of grammar was Cummings's trademark, and nowhere was it more thoroughgoing or more successful than here, I think. A lovely, lovely piece. I especially like "and down they forgot as up they grew" and "more by more they dream their sleep".

anyone lived in a pretty how town

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

E.E. Cummings (1894-1962)