101 Poems, Number 30

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

30: “maggie and millie and molly and may,” from 95 Poems, 1958, by E. E. Cummings (1894–1962)

It seems so simple—girls at play

Down on a friendly beach one day.

And each one sees what each one sees—

And that, for them? Enough to please.

But Cummings is no simple man—

He writes with such a subtle plan.

And here we see felicity

Does not imply simplicity.

Link to poem.