, Nobody Loses All The Time
nobody loses all the time
i had an uncle named
Sol who was a born failure and
nearly everybody said he should have gone
into vaudeville perhaps because my Uncle Sol could
sing McCann He Was A Diver on Xmas Eve like Hell Itself which
may or may not account for the fact that my Uncle
Sol indulged in that possibly most inexcusable
of all to use a highfalootin phrase
luxuries that is or to
wit farming and be
it needlessly
added
my Uncle Sol’s farm
failed because the chickens
ate the vegetables so
my Uncle Sol had a
chicken farm till the
skunks ate the chickens when
my Uncle Sol
had a skunk farm but
the skunks caught cold and
died and so
my Uncle Sol imitated the
skunks in a subtle manner
or by drowning himself in the watertank
but somebody who’d given my Uncle Sol a Victor
Victrola and records while he lived presented to
him upon the auspicious occasion of his decease a
scruptious not to mention splendiferous funeral with
tall boys in black gloves and flowers and everything and
i remember we all cried like the Missouri
when my Uncle Sol’s coffin lurched because
somebody pressed a button
(and down went
my Uncle
Sol
and started a worm farm)
, HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Written in the 20th century, e. e. cummings was a modernist poet known for his
unconventional style and experimental approach to language. The poem reflects the shifting
perspectives and attitudes of the modern era.
INTENTION/MEANING
The poem presents a perspective on life's ups and downs, asserting that nobody is perpetually
unlucky. The intention is to convey a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the cyclical
nature of life's experiences.
STRUCTURE
The poem consists of a single stanza with six lines. It employs a free verse structure, lacking a
regular rhyme scheme or meter. The arrangement of words and lines contributes to the visual
impact of the poem.
POETIC DEVICES
• Wordplay: cummings plays with language through unconventional punctuation and
syntax, inviting readers to engage with the text in an active way.
• Paradox: The assertion that "nobody loses all the time" is a paradoxical statement that
challenges conventional notions of success and failure.
TONE/MOOD
The tone is optimistic and encouraging. The mood is a mix of reassurance and contemplation,
offering a positive outlook on life's challenges. The poem's language play adds an element of
curiosity and engagement.
nobody loses all the time
i had an uncle named
Sol who was a born failure and
nearly everybody said he should have gone
into vaudeville perhaps because my Uncle Sol could
sing McCann He Was A Diver on Xmas Eve like Hell Itself which
may or may not account for the fact that my Uncle
Sol indulged in that possibly most inexcusable
of all to use a highfalootin phrase
luxuries that is or to
wit farming and be
it needlessly
added
my Uncle Sol’s farm
failed because the chickens
ate the vegetables so
my Uncle Sol had a
chicken farm till the
skunks ate the chickens when
my Uncle Sol
had a skunk farm but
the skunks caught cold and
died and so
my Uncle Sol imitated the
skunks in a subtle manner
or by drowning himself in the watertank
but somebody who’d given my Uncle Sol a Victor
Victrola and records while he lived presented to
him upon the auspicious occasion of his decease a
scruptious not to mention splendiferous funeral with
tall boys in black gloves and flowers and everything and
i remember we all cried like the Missouri
when my Uncle Sol’s coffin lurched because
somebody pressed a button
(and down went
my Uncle
Sol
and started a worm farm)
, HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Written in the 20th century, e. e. cummings was a modernist poet known for his
unconventional style and experimental approach to language. The poem reflects the shifting
perspectives and attitudes of the modern era.
INTENTION/MEANING
The poem presents a perspective on life's ups and downs, asserting that nobody is perpetually
unlucky. The intention is to convey a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the cyclical
nature of life's experiences.
STRUCTURE
The poem consists of a single stanza with six lines. It employs a free verse structure, lacking a
regular rhyme scheme or meter. The arrangement of words and lines contributes to the visual
impact of the poem.
POETIC DEVICES
• Wordplay: cummings plays with language through unconventional punctuation and
syntax, inviting readers to engage with the text in an active way.
• Paradox: The assertion that "nobody loses all the time" is a paradoxical statement that
challenges conventional notions of success and failure.
TONE/MOOD
The tone is optimistic and encouraging. The mood is a mix of reassurance and contemplation,
offering a positive outlook on life's challenges. The poem's language play adds an element of
curiosity and engagement.
