Poem of the month

selected by David Underdown

love is more thicker than forget
more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet
more frequent than to fail

it is most mad and moonly
and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only
is deeper than the sea

love is less always than to win
less never than alive
less bigger than the least begin
less littler than forgive

it is most sane and sunly
and more it cannot die
than all the sky which only
is higher than the sky

This (characteristically) untitled poem by the American poet e.e.cummings is taken from his ‘selected poems 1923 – 1958’ published by Penguin. Trying to break free from the established conventions of poetry he has the knack of combining humour with tenderness and his quirky style remains instantly recognisable.