E.E. CUMMINGS READS A Poetry Collection

Cummings's eccentric use of punctuation and typography often intimidated readers. But the sheer cadences of the poems in this long program reveal their profound meanings. We gain further insight into his art through the lectures included in the program. Cummings's voice is unexpectedly high, and, like many poets, he has a habit of raising the inflection in his voice at the end of phrases. He seems to come alive as a reader in the selections recorded before a live audience. Because the recordings span Cummings's career, the quality is uneven. He gives no introduction to any of his poems. P.B.J. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]