by E. E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings (1894 - 1962)
So Shy
Language: English
So shy, shy, shy, and with the look that very boldest men Can scarcely dare to meet, no matter how he’ll try to try. So wrong, wrong, wrong and with the smile at which the rightest men Remembers there’s such a thing like spring and wonders why. So gay, gay, gay and with a wisdom that the wisest men Will partly understand all that the wisest men have liked. So young, young, young and with the something makes the oldest men, Whoever he may be, the only man who never died.
Text Authorship:
- by E. E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings (1894 - 1962), copyright status unknown [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Lita Grier (1937 - 2024), "So Shy" [ soprano and piano ], from Three Songs, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-09-19
Line count: 8
Word count: 91