Hist Whist

 

"hist whist" by e.e. cummings,

illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray

 

 

hist      whist

little ghostthings

tip-toe

twinkle-toe

 

little twitchy

witches and tingling

goblins

hob-a-nob      hob-a-nob

 

little hoppy happy

toad in tweeds

tweeds

little itchy mousies

 

with scuttling

eyes      rustle and run      and

hidehidehide

whisk

 

whisk      look out for the old woman

with the wart on her nose

what she'll do to yer

nobody knows

 

for she knows the devil      ooch

the devil      ouch

the devil

ach      the great

 

green

dancing

devil

devil

 

devil

devil

 

      wheeEEE

 

(from his collection, chansons innocentes)

 

Edward Estlin Cummings, better known as e.e. cummings, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894 and became renowned for his experimentation with poetic language. He died in 1962.