Question

Read the following prompt and type your response in the space provided consider the poem in just by ee c*mmings

In Just –
By E.E. C*mmings (cause apparently that's censored)

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



Write two paragraphs. Use details from the readings to support your points.

In the first paragraph, explain the connection between the poem and the myth of Pan.

In the second paragraph, describe how the poet created an original character type in the balloon man.

Answer 1

What’re they good for? Well, here’s our best Shmoop expert opinion: when you read a line of poetry aloud, your eyes (and therefore your voice) tend to speed on to the end of the line. Try it and see. When you read "in Just-," however, the spaces slow your eyes down. More importantly, they slow your voice down, as well. As you’re reading, you’re thinking, "Huh? I totally don’t know whether to pause for the spaces or not!" And even in that time that it takes to think that through, your voice slows oh-so-slightly. Kind of cool, huh?