Comparing Archilochus and E. E. Cummings Fragments

Excerpt from “Since Feeling is First”:

my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry
—the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids’ flutter which says

we are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms

Excerpt from Archilochus(196a):

Daughter of Amphimedon,

that noble and wise

woman whom the moldering earth now holds below,

the goddess offers pleasures

of many sorts to young men

apart from the divine deed: one of those will suffice.

These things, at leisure,

when darkness…

E. E. Cummings’s poem “Since Feeling is First” has a clear argument, which is, as suggested by its title, that feelings dominate a romantic relationship as opposed logic and reason.  He used words associated with feelings such as “blood”, “kisses” and “flowers” to express his fondness of the passionate and sensual aspects of a relationship. In the line “the best gesture of my brain is less than you eyelids’ flutter”, he embraces the simple and natural beauty of his partner, and argues that his affection for the beauty is irresistible even if he tries to use the most of his reason. He then stressed his enjoyment from the simple interactions such as “laughing” and “leaning back in my arms”, which vividly supports his point.

Archilochus also explores the subject of romance in his fragment. He addresses the woman whom he is talking to as “noble and wise”, looking beyond her physical beauty. Next, he praises the woman by suggesting the many pleasures she could give him, including the “divine deed”, which is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. By saying “one of those will suffice”, he might be taking a step back and implying that only one of the pleasures will be enough, which does not have to be sex.

Although both fragments focus on a similar theme – women - the two fragments differ in two main ways. First, the two poems have different purposes. E. E. Cummings attempts to convey a point of view through the poem, that is feeling comes before reason. In comparison, Archilochus does not make an argument, but rather, narrates his encounter with the woman. Second, the two poets look at different aspects of a woman. Although both have mentioned the sensual or physical part of the relationship, E. E. Cummings is overwhelmed only by the feeling, whereas Archilochus acknowledges that a woman offers “pleasures of many sorts”, one of them would suffice, and also praises the addressee’s nobleness and wisdom. However, it is difficult to determine if Archilochus was stating his honest opinions, as he could be merely using these words to please the addressee, with the real purpose of seducing her.