Semi-Sonnet for Cummings’ Hundredth
Thomas DeFreitas
14 October 1994
Champion of leaf and life, love and bud, bee and tree,
Of all things minuscule, whimsical, glad and true,
Slayer of seeming Mind with keenly greenest glee,
Routing scoundrels of Same with Am so brave and new,
Tiniest i who learned
From Spríng-bírds how to see
(Brandishing birth and Yes
Against grim falsity),
Praiser of thoughtless feeling and first, we Thank You.