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Closer to Me: A Literary Analysis of E.E. Cummings’ Poem Entitled May I Feel Said He

When you first read the poem entitled May I Feel Said He by e.e. cummings, there is this immediate
perverse feeling that keeps hovering in the air. With its simple yet intriguing choice of words, it leaves a
certain tickle around your privates. An instant image that surfaces is that of two people trying to have an
intimate moment with each other but it somehow becomes this awkward and afflictive situation. It situates
two people, one male and one female, engaging in an immensely amateurish sexual intercourse with each
other. As the poem progresses, it later becomes known that the male persona is in coitus with someone who
is not his wife. The funny thing is the other woman, or the female persona in the story, is well aware that the
Mr. indeed has a Mrs.
Focusing now on the personas in the poem, first of all there are two. One male and one female. By
the looks of it, the male persona is having his first encounter with a female companion. This can be assumed
by looking at the first parts of the poem. The poem opens with the lines
may i feel said he
(i’ll squeal said she
just once said he)
it’s fun said she. (1-4)
It starts with him asking permission to feel and touch the woman. From this gesture it can be inferred that he
is a novice in this kind of experience because usually when two people are already comfortable with each
other they already know what the other one wants, likes, and thier dislikes. The mere fact that he is asking
permission to simply just touch her shows his cautiousness and amateur form. However, this behaviour can
only be seen in the early parts of their rendezvous. Starting with the third stanza, he is already starting to take
command of the situation by introducing a more aggressive side with him initiating that the two of them start
to move things on through a faster pace.
(let’s go said he
not too far said she
what’s too far said he
where you are said she) (9-12).
He obviously wants to heighten the experience by nudging the woman to go further with him. Unfortunately
the woman was a little bit timid and imposed a limitation on the man.
His infidelity was also highlighted in stanza number six wherein the existence of his wife was made known.
In e.e. cumming’s poem, “may i feel said he”, specially in stanza number 6, it is mentioned that
but it’s life said he
but your wife said she
now said he / ow said she (21-24).

With this new information in the picture it can be confirmed that he is indeed sharing this special episode in
his life with someone who is not his wife. As the male persona reaches his climax, he partially leaves the
woman behind; ejaculating way before her. In e.e. cumming’s poem he writes, “you’re divine! said she” (31).
In the end he compliments the woman and, by means of imagination, he is pretty satisfied with himself
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seeing that he was able to release already. With this performance of his, his detachment from emotional
connections can be seen. He is in no way concerned of how or what the woman is feeling for the only thing
that he wants is pleasure. Pleasure that obviously he cannot get from his own wife.
The woman now appears to be someone who is close to the man or somewhat has this sense of
familiarity between them, this observation is evident since she knows that he has a wife. Also it seems that
she has existing feelings for him, which is seen in stanza number 5 “may i move said he / is it love said
she” (17-18). At the end of their encounter, while the man is lost in his own world of satisfaction, the woman
gives the impression of being a little bit dismayed and apathetic to the situation. This is noticable in the last
stanza “(cccome? said he / ummm said she)” (29-30). One might think that the main persona in the story is
the man but in actuality it is the woman. Although the man leads with his actions and is portrayed more
dominantly than the woman, one must take into consideration the fact the his actions would not be allowable
without the woman’s consent and approval. He is only able to do what he wants under the circumstances and
limitations laid out by the woman.
The structure of the poem also gives a more vivid picture of who the personas are and the emotions
and connections that they both possess. One stand out from the construction of this piece is on how e.e.
cummings only used small letters all through out the poem. In addition to the small letters, the choice of
words were just one syllable each. The personas manner of speaking to one another is just like a staccato
wherein each uttered word is completely disconnected from each other. This can show how the characters are
emotionally distant and passionately detached with one another. The factor of eloquence is missing in this
piece and that says a lot about their feelings. Usually when two people love each other, they express it with
more than one syllabled words. In their cases, one syllabled words are more than enough to convey the
things they want to say. In the last stanza, the man has already achieved his goal and in return he
compliments the woman on her performance. In e.e. cumming’s poem, “may i feel said he”, he writes “(you
are Mine said she)” (32). The appearance of the only capitalized word in poem also brings up a great
connection to further understanding the woman. By the looks of it, one may think that the man has triumphed
over the woman but in reality, it is the woman who wins for in that moment, he belongs to her and her alone.
The structure of the poem also included a lot of parenthesises in between each lines. Those
punctuations can represent their thoughts and how they are parallel with one another. Removing the words
inside those parenthesises the poem offers a new perspective on the personas in the story. The new poem
formed will be like this
may i feel said he

it’s fun said she

why not said she

may i stay said he

if you’re willing said he

ow said she
go slowly said she
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you’re divine! said he.
In the new poem, the aura of their personalities seem to be the total opposite from the original poem. The
man is now an awkward being who asks the woman if he could stay which resonates his desire for intimacy.
The woman, however, asks the man to leave slowly and shows no emotional attachment to him.
The two poems show a contrast between what is thought and what is said. In the original poem, the
inner thoughts and feelings of both characters can be seen. In the newly formed poem, the difference from
they think and what they actually said out loud is noticeable. In effect, this shows how their inner self and
their outer self, or the version of themselves that they show to other people, are complete opposites.

[CM. Manila, Philippines]