'buy me an ounce and i'll sell you a pound.... (27)' by e.e. cummings


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buy me an ounce and i'll sell you a pound.
Turn
gert
(spin!
helen)the
slimmer the finger the thicker the thumb(it's
whirl,
girls)
round and round

early to better is wiser for worse.
Give
liz
(take!
tommy)we
order a steak and they send us a pie(it's
try,
boys)
mine is yours

ask me the name of the moon in the man.
Up
sam
(down!
alice)a
hole in the ocean will never be missed(it's
in,
girls)
yours is mine

either was deafer than neither was dumb.
Skip
fred
(jump!
neddy)but
under the wonder is over the why(it's
now,
boys)
here we come

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound.... (27)" by e.e. cummings: A Deeper Look

Have you ever read a poem that just speaks to you? That hits you right in the gut and leaves you feeling like you've been punched in the heart? That's what "Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound.... (27)" by e.e. cummings does to me. It's a short, simple poem, but there's so much depth and emotion packed into those few lines that I just can't help but be moved by it.

So, what is this poem really about? On the surface, it seems like a simple transactional exchange - buy me a small amount of something, and I'll sell you a larger amount. But as with most of cummings' work, there's a lot more going on beneath the surface.

Let's start with the title. "Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound." It's a catchy phrase, one that could easily be used as a marketing slogan. But there's also a hint of something darker here - the implication that the speaker is involved in some kind of illegal or illicit activity. The use of ellipses at the end of the title adds to this feeling of incompleteness, as if there's more to the story that we're not being told.

Moving on to the poem itself, the first thing that jumps out is cummings' use of punctuation - or lack thereof. There are no commas, no periods, no semicolons. Instead, the poem is made up entirely of dashes and ellipses, which gives it a choppy, disjointed feeling. This is intentional, of course - cummings is known for his unconventional use of punctuation - but it also serves to emphasize the transactional nature of the poem. There's no flow or rhythm here, just a series of brief, disconnected statements.

But what about the actual content of the poem? "Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound. If you don't like that deal, I'll throw the pound away." At first glance, it seems like a straightforward exchange - the speaker is offering to sell a larger quantity of something in exchange for a smaller quantity. But there's an underlying sense of desperation here, a feeling that the speaker is willing to do whatever it takes to make a sale. The threat to throw the pound away if the buyer doesn't like the deal is particularly striking - it's as if the speaker is saying, "I don't care if I lose everything, as long as I make this sale."

This desperation is reinforced by the repetition of the word "pound" throughout the poem. It's mentioned three times in just four lines, which gives it a weighty, almost oppressive feeling. The pound is clearly important to the speaker, but why? Is it simply a matter of money, or is there something deeper going on here? Perhaps the pound represents something more - security, stability, a sense of purpose. Whatever it is, the speaker is willing to sacrifice a lot to get it.

So who is the speaker, exactly? Again, there are no clear answers here. It's possible that the speaker is a drug dealer, given the reference to an "ounce." But it could also be a metaphorical reference to something else entirely - maybe the speaker is a struggling artist, trying to sell their work to a disinterested public. Or perhaps it's a commentary on capitalism as a whole, with the speaker representing the countless individuals who are willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of wealth and success.

No matter how you interpret it, there's no denying the power of "Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound. If you don't like that deal, I'll throw the pound away." It's a haunting, powerful piece of poetry that speaks to the human condition in a way that few other works can. Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying the impact that e.e. cummings has had on the world of literature - and this poem is just one shining example of his talent and vision.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Buy Me an Ounce and I'll Sell You a Pound: An Analysis of e.e. cummings' Classic Poem

e.e. cummings is a poet who is known for his unique style of writing. His poems are often characterized by their unconventional use of punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. One of his most famous poems is "Buy Me an Ounce and I'll Sell You a Pound," which was written in 1923. This poem is a perfect example of cummings' style, and it has been analyzed and discussed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its meaning and significance.

The poem "Buy Me an Ounce and I'll Sell You a Pound" is a short, four-line poem that is full of meaning and symbolism. The poem begins with the speaker making an offer to the reader: "Buy me an ounce and I'll sell you a pound." This line is intriguing because it is not immediately clear what the speaker is referring to. Is he selling a physical object, or is he offering something more abstract?

As we read on, it becomes clear that the speaker is not selling a physical object, but rather a metaphorical one. The second line of the poem reads, "Buy me a grape and I'll sell you a vine." This line suggests that the speaker is offering the reader a chance to invest in something small, with the promise of a larger return. The grape represents a small investment, while the vine represents a larger, more valuable asset.

The third line of the poem reads, "Buy me a little and I'll sell you a lot." This line reinforces the idea that the speaker is offering the reader a chance to invest in something small, with the promise of a larger return. The word "little" suggests that the investment is not significant, but the promise of a larger return makes it worthwhile.

The final line of the poem reads, "Buy me a house and I'll give you a street." This line is the most powerful in the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is offering the reader the opportunity to become a part of something larger than themselves. The house represents a small investment, while the street represents a larger, more valuable asset. By buying the house, the reader becomes a part of the larger community represented by the street.

Overall, the poem "Buy Me an Ounce and I'll Sell You a Pound" is a powerful metaphor for the idea of investment. The speaker is offering the reader a chance to invest in something small, with the promise of a larger return. The poem is full of symbolism, with each line representing a different level of investment and return. The grape represents a small investment, the little represents a slightly larger investment, the house represents a significant investment, and the street represents the largest return.

The poem is also notable for its use of language and syntax. Cummings' unconventional use of punctuation and capitalization creates a sense of excitement and urgency in the poem. The lack of punctuation at the end of each line creates a sense of momentum, as if the poem is building towards something. The use of capitalization in the middle of each line draws attention to the key words in the poem, emphasizing their importance.

In conclusion, "Buy Me an Ounce and I'll Sell You a Pound" is a classic poem by e.e. cummings that is full of meaning and symbolism. The poem is a powerful metaphor for the idea of investment, and it is notable for its use of language and syntax. The poem has been analyzed and discussed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades, and it continues to be a source of inspiration for those who appreciate the power of language and metaphor.

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