A Reading of 'Buffalo Bill's' by E. E. Cummings

To be honest, I've never really grasped exactly what this poem is about. Undoubtedly, it refers to William Frederick 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, a 'colourful figure of the American Old West' but if it references particular things or events then it beats me what they are. However, I think that any references are of secondary importance to the fantastic images Cummings summons up: the sharp breaking of the 'pigeons', the flash of the 'silver stallion', the mysterious 'blue-eyed boy' and Mister Death.

Also, the poem has a strong sense of brokenness / ending, initiated by the word 'defunct' at the beginning and cemented by the reference to Death at the end.

Regardless of what it might mean, though, it's great fun to read aloud.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Buffalo
• Bill
• Bill's
• E. E. Cummings
• Cummings
• Poem
• Poetry
• Spoken

[2020cyclops]

nicht gut