In Just by E.E. Cummings

in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman
whistles far and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it's spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far and wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing
from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's spring
and the goat-footed
balloonMan whistles
far
and
wee


This is a poem clearly about childhood. Cummings seems to have specific memories of some of the things that he did and enjoyed as a child. Cummings uses words like hop-scotch, mud, and balloonman to create imagery of playing with your friends at a park of some sort. This poem has some hyperboles like the strange words and irregular poem format that is included. Cummings describes a balloon man as being goat footed which is an example of personification. This poem is joyful and reminds me of some of the memories of my very own childhood.