Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin) : a man who had fallen among thieves

Literature Annotations

Genre	Poem
Keywords	Alcoholism, Caregivers, Empathy
Summary	In typical, twisted Cummings syntax without punctuation or capitalization, the author relates an encounter with an unconscious drunk on the street. Other staunch citizens hurry by. The drunk is "swaddled with a frozen brook of pinkest vomit," one hand "clenched weakly dirt," and his trouser fly is open. The author takes up the challenge of a good Samaritan, brushing off the "stiffened puke." But he closes with the opposite of self-righteousness: "i put him all into my arms and staggered banged with terror through a million billion trillion stars."
Commentary	The title and first line are from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, but Cummings adds the disgusting details and the terror to make a special point. It may be the right thing to do to take care of the drunk or the down and out, but those who shrink from it may do so justifiably, because it certainly isn't pleasant or easy. The poem should be required reading in all emergency rooms.
Source	Complete Poems, 1904-1962
Publisher	Liveright
Edition	1994
Editors	George J. Firmage
Place Published	New York
Alternate Source	Complete Poems, 1913-1962
Alternate Publisher	Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich
Alternate Edition	1971
Place Published	New York
Miscellaneous	First published: 1926
Annotated by	Terry, James S.
Date of Entry	11/11/94
Last Revised	12/10/96