The Full Text of “since feeling is first”
1since feeling is first
2who pays any attention
3to the syntax of things
4will never wholly kiss you;
5wholly to be a fool
6while Spring is in the world
7my blood approves,
8and kisses are a better fate
9than wisdom
10lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry
11– the best gesture of my brain is less than
12your eyelids’ flutter which says
13we are for each other; then
14laugh, leaning back in my arms
15for life’s not a paragraph
16And death i think is no parenthesis
The Full Text of “since feeling is first”
1since feeling is first
2who pays any attention
3to the syntax of things
4will never wholly kiss you;
5wholly to be a fool
6while Spring is in the world
7my blood approves,
8and kisses are a better fate
9than wisdom
10lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry
11– the best gesture of my brain is less than
12your eyelids’ flutter which says
13we are for each other; then
14laugh, leaning back in my arms
15for life’s not a paragraph
16And death i think is no parenthesis
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“since feeling is first” Introduction
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"since feeling is first" was published in 1926 as part of E. E. Cummings's collection Is 5. Like many poems in the collection, "since feeling is first" is a love poem that celebrates the joys of romance. The speaker also suggests that emotions tend to overshadow thoughts, arguing that feeling itself is something more immediate and profound than logic or reason. The poem exemplifies Cummings's unique poetic style, which often plays with standard grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Interestingly enough, the poem's speaker claims that analyzing life like a piece of syntax—breaking down its grammar and rules—keeps people from being present in life and fully appreciating things like love.
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“since feeling is first” Summary
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Because people feel emotions before anything else, why would anyone bother to fixate on small, insignificant rules and details that will pale in comparison to the feeling of a good kiss?
The idea of being a complete fool during spring is something I wholeheartedly embrace.
After all, leading a life full of kisses is better than leading a life full of knowledge. Lady, I promise on the beauty of nature that this is true. Don't be sad. My best, most impressive thoughts can't even measure up to the movement of your eyelids, which confirm to me that we are meant for each other.
So just laugh and fall into my arms, since life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, not approached like some boring piece of writing.
For that matter, we should live life to the fullest before we die, since I think when death comes it will last forever, unlike a parenthesis.
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“since feeling is first” Themes
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Feeling vs. Thinking
The speaker of “since feeling is first” encourages people to stop overthinking things. This, the poem implies, is because thinking pales in comparison to the gratification of simply experiencing and enjoying life as it happens.
When the speaker says that “feeling is first,” this means that people process life on an emotional level before processing it on an analytical level. To illustrate this point, the speaker suggests that the “syntax of things / will never wholly kiss you.” In other words, analyzing life like it’s a piece of writing won’t lead to the kind of fulfillment and pleasure a simple kiss can create. As such, the speaker believes it’s best to for people to embrace their feelings, since overthinking life will never lead to complete happiness or satisfaction.
In fact, the speaker is perfectly happy to look like a “fool” if this is what it takes to lead a life dedicated to feeling. This means that the speaker would like to fully embrace the immediate joys of love and springtime, regardless of whether doing so seems logical. After all, the speaker firmly believes that even the most respectable intellectual activity can’t measure up to the excitement of watching a lover’s eyelids “flutter.” For the speaker, no amount of analysis can beat the emotions that arise directly from life itself—emotions that strike people in immediate, intimate ways.
As such, the poem implies that those who honor their feelings live more honestly and freely because they don’t waste time trying to make everything fit into some arbitrary order. Overthinking, then, is like agonizing over grammar and syntax (that is, the arrangement of words in a sentence). The speaker views this overly logical approach to life as rigid and formulaic, one that keeps people from fully appreciating life in the moment.
The speaker ends the poem by insisting that life isn’t a "paragraph" and that death isn’t a "parenthesis," thereby highlighting the fact that existence isn’t mean to be neatly organized or analyzed like a block of text. Instead, life is something that people should merely experience; life is about living it, not analyzing it.
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Love and Appreciation
“since feeling is first” is, above all, a love poem. The speaker argues that people shouldn't overthink or overanalyze love, and instead must allow themselves to be open to romance and to fully feel their emotions. This aligns with the poem’s overall message that emotions overshadow logic, as the speaker frames love as something that is so fulfilling that it makes all other considerations seem insignificant in comparison.
The speaker’s main point is that people shouldn’t overthink things that they could instead just feel. To illustrate this, the speaker considers the feeling of being in love, which doesn’t require any kind of thinking or structured analysis. For instance, the speaker points out that kissing somebody or watching a lover’s eyelids flutter aren’t things that need to be analyzed. Rather, they only need to be felt and experienced. In keeping with this, the poem presents love as something very intuitive and natural.
The speaker also connects this romantic mindset to life itself by associating romance with springtime and flowers, which represent vitality and the beauty of existence. Like love, these things don’t need to be analyzed in order to be enjoyed. This suggests that people who are capable of opening themselves up to love are also able to more thoroughly appreciate life than people who spend their time thinking about and getting hung up on insignificant details. In turn, the speaker casts love as something that not only overshadows logic and thought, but also enhances a person’s ability to be open and present in the world.
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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “since feeling is first”
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Lines 1-4
since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;The speaker begins by suggesting that "feeling is first." This means that people experience feelings and emotions before experiencing anything else. In other words, people process life on an emotional level before analyzing their experiences on a logical or rational level.
With this in mind, the speaker wonders who would bother to stop and think about "the syntax of things / will never wholly kiss you." This is a metaphorical question, as the speaker uses the word "syntax"—which basically refers to the arrangement of words in a sentence—to imply that overthinking arbitrary details is a useless thing to do, especially when these details will never bring the kind of happiness or satisfaction that comes from a good kiss. In this way, the first stanza ("since feeling ... wholly kiss you") lays out the speaker's belief that feelings are more valuable and rewarding than thoughts.
The speaker's combined use of alliteration and sibilance in these lines also make them sound pleasing to the ear. For instance, the /f/ sound repeats in the first line:
since feeling is first
This alliteration connects the word "feeling" to the word "first," and this ultimately helps the speaker emphasize the idea that people experience things emotionally before experiencing them in any other way.
What's more, sibilance runs throughout the first stanza, as the speaker uses not only the standard sibilant /s/ sound, but also the /z/, /th/, and /f/ sounds:
since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;This sibilance creates a satisfying hissing sound, one that makes the speaker sound relaxed. This tone is appropriate for the poem, since the speaker's general attitude is one of happiness and contentment. In turn, the sound of the speaker's words reflects the poem's overall mood.
On another note, the first stanza establishes the poem's lack of meter and form. Although these four lines are all roughly the same length (containing between five and seven syllables), they don't adhere to any kind of meter, nor do they set forth a rhyme scheme. As such, the first stanza establishes a free-flowing style that continues throughout the rest of the poem.
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Lines 5-7
wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world
my blood approves, -
Lines 8-9
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom -
Lines 10-13
lady i swear by all flowers. Don’t cry
– the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids’ flutter which says
we are for each other; -
Lines 13-16
then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life’s not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis
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“since feeling is first” Symbols
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Syntax and Writing
Throughout the poem, the speaker points to syntax and other writing-related terms as representations of how people often overthink or overanalyze life. In this capacity, syntax (which is the arrangement of words in a phrase) comes to stand for the kind of arbitrary considerations people fixate on instead of simply enjoying life. This, in turn, is why the speaker states that "life's not a paragraph," ultimately arguing that it's misguided to approach life like it's a piece of writing. As a result, writing, syntax, and punctuation become symbols of the nit-picky details that distract people and prevent them from honoring their feelings.
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Nature
For the speaker, nature is symbolic of the kind of beauty and joy that people should focus on in life. Instead of overthinking and analyzing things, the speaker upholds, people should simply feel and experience things like romance and happiness. To that end, the speaker has no problem looking like a "fool" if this is what it takes to fully appreciate things like spring.
Similarly, the speaker swears on the beauty of nature that it's better to lead a life full of love than a life full of wisdom. Indeed, the mere fact that speaker would "swear by all flowers" to make this point illustrates the extent to which the speaker respects nature. In turn, nature itself comes to stand for the simple contentment that can come from opening oneself up to life in an emotional, rather than intellectual, way.
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“since feeling is first” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language
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Alliteration
The speaker of "since feeling is first" uses alliteration sparingly throughout the poem, quickly moving from one alliterative sound to the next. This adds a subtle sense of melody and cohesiveness to the poem without making it sound overly poetic or constructed. Alliteration helps the speaker create a unified sound, one that draws readers through the poem and smooths out the somewhat haphazard way that the stanzas are organized.
The first line features clear alliteration with the /f/ sounds of "feeling is first," immediately drawing readers' attention to this important phrase that outlines the overall message of the poem—namely, that emotions are the most immediate and therefore meaningful types of human experience. By repeating the /f/ sound, the speaker connects the words "feeling" and "first" to highlight this idea.
Later, the speaker repeats the /l/ sound before switching to the /p/ sound in the last three lines of the poem:
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraphAnd death i think is no parenthesis
The repetition of the /l/ sound links the words "laugh," "leaning," and "life"—all words that carry importance in the poem, as the speaker tries to convince the lover to enjoy life on an emotional, experiential level before it's too late. In other words, the speaker believes that people should laugh and embrace their loved ones while they still can, since life is finite.
To that end, the alliteration of the /p/ sound in the final two lines calls attention to the words "paragraph" and "parenthesis," reminding readers of the poem's extended metaphor that compares life to writing and syntax. In this way, the speaker's use of alliteration helps spotlight an important idea in the poem, which is that life actually isn't a "paragraph," nor is death a "parenthesis." The speaker argues existence shouldn't be approached like a piece of writing, even if the speaker, somewhat ironically, expresses and underscores this idea by using clever syntax and literary devices like alliteration.
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Consonance
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Enjambment
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Irony
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Juxtaposition
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Metaphor
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Personification
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Assonance
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"since feeling is first" Vocabulary
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
- Syntax
- Wholly
- Fate
- Swear
- Gesture
- Flutter
- Parenthesis
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The arrangement of words or phrases in a sentence.
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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “since feeling is first”
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Form
"since feeling is first" does not have a set form. Rather, its 16 lines are broken up into stanzas of varying lengths. This is made evident early on, when the opening quatrain is followed by a couplet that establishes the poem's overall lack of consistency.
In fact, none of the stanzas are the same length, as the poem includes a stanza with as many as six lines and a stanza with just one line. This loose structure aligns with the speaker's belief that people should simply experience things instead of constantly overthinking. It is for this reason, it seems, that the poem is so disorganized, as the speaker breaks the lines up in idiosyncratic ways that have more to do with the general feeling of the poem than with arbitrary formal conventions.
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Meter
The poem is written in free verse, meaning that it lacks an overarching metrical pattern. Instead of focusing on the rhythm of the words, then, the speaker uses poetic devices like alliteration and consonance to tie the lines together. Combined with the speaker's somewhat unexpected and unusual use of enjambment, this lack of meter aligns perfectly with the poem's main message, which is that it's a waste of time to obsess over small details if these details distract people from simply feeling and experiencing life. Accordingly, the poem's free-flowing rhythm reflects the speaker's desire to move through life without getting hung up on insignificant details.
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Rhyme Scheme
"since feeling is first" lacks any kind of formal rhyme scheme. This makes sense, considering the speaker's belief that people shouldn't waste time thinking about small, insignificant details. However, the poem does rhyme in certain moments. Indeed, the speaker uses a number internal slant rhymes. For instance, this is evident in line 11:
– the best gesture of my brain is less than
Of course, these are not perfect rhymes, but they do tie the line together, giving it a musical sound. Similarly, the word "flutter" in line 12 ("your eyelids flutter which says") creates another internal slant rhyme with the words "each other" in line 13 ("we are for each other; then"). In this way, the speaker manages to use rhyme without depending upon a set rhyme scheme, which would contradict the poem's overall message, which is that it's foolish to obsess over things like syntax and other seemingly arbitrary concerns.
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“since feeling is first” Speaker
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The speaker of the poem has no clear identity. What is clear, though, is that the speaker is in love with an unidentified person, to whom the speaker's words are—at least in certain moments—addressed. Readers also know that the speaker is someone who thinks that thoughts, logic, and rationality are inferior to feelings and emotions. Rather than getting wrapped up in petty details, the speaker is the kind of person who just wants to enjoy the beauty of romance, especially since life will not last forever. The lack of specificity regarding the speaker's identity makes the poem feel universal and encourages readers to identify with its message.
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“since feeling is first” Setting
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The specific setting of "since feeling is first" is never made clear, nor are there any contextual clues that might help readers identify when or where the poem is set. To that end, the poem is so general and universal that it doesn't make sense to associate it with a particular contextual backdrop. Rather than concerning itself with a time or place, the poem focuses on the speaker's celebration of human feeling and, more specifically, love. Because these considerations are universal and applicable to seemingly all humans, the poem has a broad appeal.
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Literary and Historical Context of “since feeling is first”
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Literary Context
Like many of E. E. Cummings's best known poems (such as "i carry your heart with me(i carry it in" or "love is a place"), "since feeling is first" is a love poem. It prioritizes love and feeling over logic and uses naturalistic imagery to express its ideas.
This appreciation of nature aligns with the fact that Cummings is often associated with the Romantic poets. This was a group that rose to prominence in the 1800s and included people like William Wordsworth, John Keats, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge—all of whom embraced the simple joys of emotion and the beauty of nature.
Cummings's poem reflects a number of stereotypically Romantic virtues but, of course, was published in 1926—at least 30 years after the end of Romanticism (though many believe that Romanticism truly ended long before the 20th century). And despite his work's Romantic themes, Cummings is perhaps even more well-known for his unique use of language and his tendency to break from standard poetic forms. To that end, Cummings's free-flowing poetry helped popularize the use of free verse in the early to mid 1900s and beyond.
In fact, his idiosyncratic use of syntax, paired with his unstructured approach, ultimately served as a precursor to Postmodern poetry, which is more open-minded and structurally loose than poetry from the periods preceding it (namely, the Romantic, Victorian, and Modernist periods). As such, many people view Cummings as an innovator who presented familiar ideas about love, emotion, and nature in interesting new ways.
Historical Context
"since feeling is first" first appeared in E. E. Cummings's poetry collection Is 5, which was published in 1926. The collection includes a number of anti-war poems, most likely because the book came out just eight years after the end of World War I, in which Cummings served in France.
Economic growth and prosperity after the war made the 1920s an extremely vibrant period, especially in the United States and Europe. Often deemed "The Roaring Twenties" for their decadence and carefree attitude, the 1920s also saw the widespread popularity of jazz music—the syncopated rhythms of which often influenced the writing of the time. More Americans lived in urban areas and also had access to cars, telephones, and radios as well—leading to a newfound sense of freedom and cultural connection.
Fashion reflected shifting cultural norms too, famously becoming less restrictive for both women and men—all the better for taking part in new dance crazes (it'd be pretty difficult to do the Charleston in a corset or petticoat!). Cummings's poem, though ultimately timeless in its theme, seems to reflect the youthful exuberance and carefree attitude that categorized the decade.
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More “since feeling is first” Resources
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External Resources
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The Poem Out Loud — Listen to a dramatic reading of the poem.
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The Life of the Poet — Read more about E. E. Cummings in this concise overview of his life and work.
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Cummings's Unique Style — Learn more about E. E. Cummings's innovative use of structure and form in his writing.
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The Poet as a Painter — In addition to writing poetry, Cummings was also a skilled painter, as illustrated by this impressive self-portrait in the National Portrait Gallery!
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A Stylized Approach — A New Yorker essay by the poet Paul Muldoon about Cummings's characteristically strange – but very intentional – stylistic decisions.
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LitCharts on Other Poems by E. E. Cummings
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