Irrational Poetry

Daisy Delphi "D. D." Goings (pictured at the left) was one of the first poets to see the creative capabilities of the typewriter, and her works inspired E. E. Cummings to experiment with form and the arrangement of his poetry.  As a result, Goings -- who was an ardent fan of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) -- was inducted into the Poetry Hall of Fame in 1972 (information is HERE -- see the entry dated April 8th). 

In honor of Pi Day, we have posted Going's poem "isn’t so small un endingest pi" (below on the left).  Her poem inspired E. E. Cummings to write his poem "so isn’t small one littlest why" (below on the right).

By D. D. Goings:
 
isn’t so small un endingest pi,
length into round shall turn all for
vast limitless worth either  see
there’s more room than three point
     one four
 
and while calculated for ties and whys
have divided a million ways:
irrational ratio constantly in size
forever because it always stays

By E. E. Cummings:
 
so isn’t small one littlest why,
it into if shall climb all the
blue heaven green earth neither sea
here’s more than room for three
     of me
 
and only while your sweet eyes close
have disappeared a million whys;
but opening if are those eyes
every because is murdered twice