Some Poetry from e.e. cummings

I've never been much of a reader of poetry, other than infrequently, but for some reason while going to the grocery store this morning (by far the best time to go appears to be 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning--but I should not have skipped the coffee to get there early) I heard e. e. cummings on NPR and had to come home and find more.

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old


may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young


and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile
e.e. cummings


To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night
and day to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest
battle any human being can fight and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings