Poem by Edward Estlin Cummings

If

If freckles were lovely, and day was night,
And measles were nice and a lie warn't a lie,
    Life would be delight,-
    But things couldn't go right   
    For in such a sad plight
I wouldn't be I.

If earth was heaven, and now was hence,
And past was present, and false was true,
    There might be some sense   
    But I'd be in suspense
    For on such a pretense
You wouldn't be you.

If fear was plucky, and globes were square,
And dirt was cleanly and tears were glee
    Things would seem fair,-
    Yet they'd all despair,
    For if here was there
We wouldn't be we.

1. if learned darkness from our searched world
2. O Thou to whom the musical white spring
3. when unto nights of autumn do complain
4. this is the garden:colours come and go
5. come nothing to my comparable soul

William Howells If ("Yes, death is at the bottom of the cup")

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