"I imagine that yes is the only living thing"

E. e. cummings, known for his innovative style and unconventional approach to poetry, distills a profound philosophy of affirmation in the line, “I imagine that yes is the only living thing.” Through this short statement, he evokes a sense of possibility, vitality, and openness. The word “yes” embodies acceptance, growth, and the willingness to engage with life. In contrast to negation and restriction, “yes” breathes life into every experience and encounter, suggesting that true living stems from the embrace of the new, the unknown, and the potential inherent in the world around us.

Affirmation fosters creativity and expansion. To say “yes” is to acknowledge opportunities, to move forward with curiosity, and to allow oneself to participate fully in the act of living. Cummings implies that existence itself thrives on assent, only by opening oneself up to experience, by affirming feelings, relationships, and the ever-changing circumstances of today and tomorrow, does one truly live. Negation, no, refusal, denial, serves as the antithesis: a halting, diminishing force that eliminates possibilities and corners existence into stasis or retreat.

The notion of “the only living thing” elevates yes above mere politeness or agreement. It becomes almost a living entity, the essential spark animating all that moves and grows. Within every act of courage, every leap of faith, every risk taken for love or art or truth, resides a tacit yes, a surrender to the unpredictable flow of life. Cummings suggests that this affirmative spirit is more than just an attitude; it is the life force itself, the perpetual origin of creation and being.

By imagining yes as the sole truly alive thing, cummings invites readers to reflect on the ways in which life multiplies when we respond with openness. It is not avoidance or refusal, but the brave act of welcoming all that is possible, which nurtures and sustains our lives.