5

may my heart always be open to little birds

birds who are the secrets of living

whatever they sing is better than to know

and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry

and fearless and thirsty and supple

and even if it's sunday may i be wrong

for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully

and love yourself so more than truly

there's never been such a fool who could fail

pull all the sky over him with just one smile

e.e.cummings, Selected Poems, Richard S. Kennedy (ed.), Liveright, New York, 2007.