I Shall Imagine Life

i shall imagine life
is not worth dying, if
(and when) roses complain
their beauties are in vain

but though mankind persuades
itself that every weed's
a rose, roses (you feel
certain) will only smile

--e.e. cummings *

*...so far as I am concerned, poetry and every other art was and is and forever will be strictly and distinctly a question of individuality...poetry is being, not doing. If you wish to follow, even at a distance, the poet's calling (and here, as always, I speak from my own totally biased and entirely personal point of view) you've got to come out of the measurable doing universe into the immeasurable house of being...Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else. Toms can be Dicks and Dicks can be Harrys, but none of them can ever be you. There's the artist's responsibility; and the most awful responsibility on earth. If you can take it, take it--and be. If you can't, cheer up and go about other people's business; and do (or undo) till you drop.
--from six nonlectures
Harvard University 1952--53