as freedom is a breakfastfood

by e. e. cummings

E.E. Cummings dressed in his First World War military

uniform. WWI was far more psychologically damaging

than the Second World War or, arguably, any other war since

because it was fought in packed trenches with little to no territorial

gains or losses as a result of the introduction of machine guns

and the blatant, constant use of chemical weapons, specifically

mustard gas. Near the end of the war, roaring, mammoth-like

tanks appeared on the battlefields, steamrolling barbwire

and plowing over trenches.  Even though the weaponry
mounted on the original tanks wasn't very effective,
the psychological effect upon morale was significant
in virtue of the loud rumble of their engines, their
seeming disregard for infantry fire, not to mention their
sheer size and the fact that most had never seen one before.
With enemy infantry charging behind the tanks, shielded,
the ensuing disarray was often enough to lead to an onslaught.
The nickname The War to End All Wars owes its existence
to the inhumane gruesomeness of the conflict.  In the end,
however, WWI wasn't won via territorial gains, but rather
by a flanking strategy that successfully cut-off the supply lines
pivotal to the survival of frontline troops of Germany and
the Austria-Hungary Empire.  Edward Estlin Cummings'
palpable zest and love of life is the result of having experienced
one of the most terrifying chapters in human history.  For more
information on the Era and its impact on Cumming's poetry,
read "since feeling is first" and the accompanying essay.

as freedom is a breakfastfood
or truth can live with right and wrong
or molehills are from mountains made
—long enough and just so long
will being pay the rent of seem
and genius please the talentgang
and water most encourage flame

as hatracks into peachtrees grow
or hopes dance best on bald men’s hair
and every finger is a toe
and any courage is a fear
—long enough and just so long
will the impure think all things pure
and hornets wail by children stung

or as the seeing are the blind
and robins never welcome spring
nor flatfolk prove their world is round
nor dingsters die at break of dong
and common’s rare and millstones float
—long enough and just so long
tomorrow will not be too late

worms are the words but joy’s the voice
down shall go which and up come who
breasts will be breasts thighs will be thighs
deeds cannot dream what dreams can do
—time is a tree(this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough





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For a review of the background to the life, poetic style, and historical context that shaped E. E. Cummings' exceptional body of work, please read the brief essay immediately after the following poem—

•  "since feeling is first"

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You may also enjoy these other poems by Edward Estlin Cummings:

• "now does our world descend"

• "if you like my poems"

• "love is more thicker than forget"

How to Relax Completely in 10 Seconds

Constantly feeling anxiety is a major part of the every day life for millions of individuals.  The prognosis for anxiety disorders is among the worst within the diverse families of psychopathology. From a medical perspective, treatment typically consists of prescribing benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam, clonazepam, diazepam), which yield substance dependence and chemical tolerance.  These medications relieve the symptoms but leave the causes untreated.  From a pure psychotherapy perspective, the prognosis for anxiety is just as bad; Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, the most employed technique nowadays, targets specific ideas that trigger feelings of anxiety, but this is ineffective because of the nature of anxiety.  Unlike phobias - fears tied to specific triggers - anxiety results from persistent fear that has lost its triggers, spreading throughout the brain.  If you manipulate some ideas by frequent repetition, the anxiety resurfaces elsewhere, again because the causes are not being treated.

But not all is hopeless.  Relaxation techniques used properly and frequently both relive anxiety and rewire the very same neural networks that generate it.  Previously I posted a technique for combating anxiety in the morning by listening and singing to a specific adaptation of Beethoven's Ode to Joy.  In what follows, I will provide instructions for a shorter and way more effective relaxation technique.

How to Relax in 10 Seconds

The following technique is not well known, but it works like a charm.  You will have to stand up and adopt what I call the "Receptive Position".  This position is a variant of the so-called Anatomic Position, as shown below.

So here are the instructions for how to relax in 10 seconds with the Receptive Position:

Step 1:  Stand up straight, shoulders back but relaxed.

Step 2:  Raise your shin a little (as in a "proud" emotional stance).

Step 3:  Drop your arms to your side and completely relax all tensions that might be hiding there.

Step 4:  Make your palms face forward and try again to relax your arms. (This is the hardest part of the exercise; if it causes you some pain, you may slightly make them face a little bit towards you, so long as they are still mostly facing forward and not towards your body.)

Step 5:  Make sure your body is as free of tension as you can possibly get it to be.

Step 6:  Close your eyes.

Step 7:  Breathe deeply, counting in silence every exhalation until you reach 10. (If you are extra stressed, breathe and count each exhalation until 15.)

Step 8:  Upon counting 10 (or 15), immediately open your eyes. 

Do it!  After finishing, ask yourself - How do you feel at that precise moment?

If you are so anxious that your first attempt caused you some physical discomfort, please just do the exercise one more time.  This really does work for everyone.

Once you've learned how to do this easy procedure correctly, you know that you can always repeat it whenever anxious or overly stressed if you can find a place where you enjoy some privacy.

I hope that this exercise has provided you immediate relief.


BONUS:  You can check how anxious you are via elevating yourself by getting on the tips of your toes as you inhale, then lowering yourself during exhalation.  Be careful!  If you are anxious, you will feel that you are falling as you get on the tip of your toes (a vertigo-like feeling).  In contrast, if you are not anxious, elevating yourself in this way will not cause you any feeling of discomfort.

Conversation, by Elizabeth Bishop

The tumult in the heart
keeps asking questions.
And then it stops and undertakes to answer
in the same tone of voice.
No one could tell the difference.

Uninnocent, these conversations start,
and then engage the senses,
only half-meaning to.
And then there is no choice,
and then there is no sense;

until a name
and all its connotation are the same.

Mindfulness Music for Children

Mindfulness meditation techniques are important for the mind to self-organize in a coherent, productive, healthy way, by releasing tension and removing fear from our minds and souls.

For Mobile users who cannot see the video above, here is Mindfulness Music for Children.