Now that you have worked through the sections on allusion, metaphor, symbolism, and imagery, it’s time to identify these elements in one poem. The following poem was written by E.E. Cummings. He is known for his unique spacing, lack of capital letters, and vivid imagery.

take notes icon As you read the poem, highlight examples of imagery by clicking on words and phrases. Then, use your notes to answer the questions that follow. When you are finished with the questions, check your understanding to see some possible responses.

A photograph of a toddler splashing through her feet in puddles

Source: JOY 1 of 3, deb mae, Flickr

[in Just-]

in Just-
spring          when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles         far         and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far         and         wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's
spring
and

      the

              goat-footed

balloonMan       whistles
far
and
wee


A photograph of a young boy playing in a mud puddle.

Source: ez-mud-puddle, Jeremy OK, Flickr

  1. Cummings uses an allusion to the character Pan from Greek mythology. Look up who Pan is and what he is like. How is the balloon man like Pan?

  2. This poem is sometimes seen as a metaphor for children’s loss of innocence. Note the contrast between the children’s activities and the balloon man’s descriptions. What are the children doing when they hear the call of the balloon man? What phrases describe the balloon man? How does his image change as the poem progresses?

  3. Note that the author uses the word “spring” several times. Considering that the people who come running are young children, what might spring symbolize?

Check Your Understanding

Sample Responses:

  1. Pan is a character who has cloven hooves and shaggy legs of a goat. He is known as a god of the woodlands and of merrymaking. He is often shown playing a flute and leading shepherds in a dance. The balloon man is like Pan because he lures the children away from their games.

  2. The children are playing games: marbles and piracies, hop-scotch, and jump-rope. The balloon man is described as “little lame,” “queer old,” and “goat-footed.” His image becomes more strange and threatening as the poem progresses.

  3. Spring is often thought of as a time when things begin to grow and mature. The balloon man leads the children away from childish games and draws them toward growing up.

Poetry may make you feel anxious sometimes because the meanings of poems are not always obvious. If you take your time and read poems carefully, however, you will get better at finding the techniques that poets use. This effort will increase your understanding of poetry and hopefully decrease your anxiety.