Britannica AI Icon

what if a much of a which of a wind

poem by Cummings

Quick Summary

The poem "what if a much of a which of a wind" by E.E. Cummings is an example of accentual verse. This means the lines of the poem have a consistent number of stressed syllables, but the total number of syllables per line can vary.

In this poem, each line has four accents. For instance, the lines "what if a much of a which of a wind" and "gives the truth to summer’s lie;" both have four stresses, but the first has ten syllables while the second has seven. Cummings, known for his unconventional punctuation and phrasing, uses this technique to create a unique rhythm and emphasis within his work.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. E.E. Cummings
  2. accentual verse

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.