Poemi sing of Olaf glad and big
Author / PoetE. E. Cummings
TagsConscientious, Objector, Resistance, War

i sing of Olaf glad and big
whose warmest heart recoiled at war:
a conscientious object-or

his wellbelovéd colonel (trig
westpointer most succinctly bred)
took erring Olaf soon in hand;
but-though an host of overjoyed
noncoms (first knocking on the head
him) do through icy waters roll
that helplessness which others stroke
with brushes recently employed
anent this muddy toiletbowl,
while kindred intellects evoke
allegiance per blunt instruments-
Olaf (being to all intents
a corpse and wanting any rag
upon what God unto him gave)
responds, without getting annoyed
“I will not kiss your fucking flag”

straightaway the silver bird looked grave
(departing hurriedly to shave)

but-though all kinds of officers
(a yearning nation’s blueeyed pride)
their passive prey did kick and curse
until for wear their clarion
voices and boots were much the worse,
and egged the firstclassprivates on
his rectum wickedly to tease
by means of skillfully applied
bayonets roasted hot with heat-
Olaf (upon what were once knees)
does almost ceaselessly repeat
“there is some shit I will not eat”

our president,being of which
assertions duly notified
threw the yellowsonofabitch
into a dungeon,where he died

Christ (of His mercy infinite)
i pray to see;and Olaf,too

preponderatingly because
unless statistics lie he was
more brave than me:more blond than you

E. E. Cummings
E. E. Cummings
14 Oct 1894 - 3 Sep 1962
Region: Central America
Period: Modernist
Movement: Modernism
Awards: Bollingen Prize, National Book Award

more poems by E. E. Cummings

Poem NameTopic
ygUDuh
when serpents bargainAbsurdity, Imagination, Nature
what if a much of a which of a windExistence, Nature, Surrealism
the boys i mean are not refined
Spring is like a perhaps handIntimacy, Rebellion, Refinement
somewhere i have never travelledIntimacy, Love, Nature
she being BrandHumor, Mechanics, Metaphor
since feeling is firstEmotion, Love, Nature
pity this busy monster, manunkindCritique, Existence, Progress
o sweet spontaneousBeauty, Critique, Nature

all poems by E. E. Cummings

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