Buffalo Bill’s defunct

Larger than life symbol of rugged Larger than life symbol of rugged AmericaAmerica

CowboyCowboyIndian fighterIndian fighterBuffalo hunterBuffalo hunterFounder-The Wild West ShowFounder-The Wild West Show

The most famous man in the The most famous man in the worldworld

William F. Cody – aka Buffalo BillWilliam F. Cody – aka Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill’s defunct

A poem by

e e cummings

Buffalo Bill's defunct

who used to

ride a watersmooth-silver stallion

and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat

Jesus he was a handsome man

and what I want to know is

how do you like your blueeyed boy

Mister Death

Common theme- death claims all

Bill in action- breaking pigeonsjustlikethat

Vitality and speed- watersmooth-silver

“Handsome”- whole figure in action

The Poem Itself

Self-portrait of an admiring but disdainful speaker

Admires Bill’s skill and good looks

Humorous indifference to Bill’s death using the world “defunct”

Bill the DestroyerBill the Destroyer

Dreams of youth and Dreams of youth and innocenceinnocence

Hatred towards a culture that Hatred towards a culture that invites children to create invites children to create unworthy heroesunworthy heroes

Bill - hero and charlatanBill - hero and charlatan

Heroic deeds reduced to Heroic deeds reduced to circus stuntscircus stunts

Bill the Bill the DestroyerDestroyer

Childhood- innocent faith Childhood- innocent faith and wonderand wonder

Expectations of childhood Expectations of childhood and of Americaand of America

Irreverence towards deathIrreverence towards death““Mister Death”Mister Death”

Is Death a spectator at a Is Death a spectator at a performance?performance?

Does it now become a characterDoes it now become a character

Question asked of DeathQuestion asked of Death““How do you like your How do you like your

blueeyed boyblueeyed boy

Does Death stand as a fatherly Does Death stand as a fatherly figure for the blueeyed boy (Bill)figure for the blueeyed boy (Bill)

Bill as the destroyer- an agent of Bill as the destroyer- an agent of DeathDeath

Destroyed- the poet’s childhoodDestroyed- the poet’s childhood

Innocent faith and wonderInnocent faith and wonder

Disappointing both his Disappointing both his expectations of childhood and of expectations of childhood and of AmericaAmerica