MAY I FEEL, SAID HE

A poem about (forbidden) love by e.e. cummings


may i feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she

(let's go said he
not too far said she
what's too far said he
where you are said she)

may i stay said he
which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she

may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you're willing said he
(but you're killing said she

but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she

(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she

(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you're divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)

The poem is a tryst boiled down to so few words: genius.

A female reader left a comment on the blog from which I found this poem, "This poem would convince me to be a mistress anyday", she wrote.

You may laugh, but don't you think that this poem is so honestly sensual and innocently seductive, bringing you to cross the imaginative boundaries where you never thought of doing before, that would make you nod in agreement to every adultery in the world? The austere simplicity of e.e. cumming's way with words might just convince you to be absorptive in the most complicated, even shameful, chapter of human's life. And it's e.e. cummings that had made adultery beautifully forgivable as if harmless, innocuous desire; makes men digress as if not a single bible put a damnation on anyone committing it. Haha. You know, crazy stuff.

img credit: Le Love