"I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart"

E. E. Cummings cleverly encapsulates the tension between desire and reality with a characteristic wit and playfulness. The speaker humorously exaggerates the distance between their lifestyle and financial means, characterizing it as so extreme that the two can hardly be connected at all–almost like estranged partners. This sense of “living apart” does more than describe a lack of funds; it animates the relationship between aspiration and limitation, rendering it as an actual separation.

Cummings uses irony to highlight a universal human predicament: the tendency to aspire to pleasures, experiences, or a standard of living far beyond what one can support. The gentle self-mockery in the line acknowledges the absurdity of such behavior, while subtly critiquing the social forces that encourage it. In contemporary society, consumption and status are often emphasized, and many find themselves tempted to exceed their means. The phrasing implies that spending habits and income have become so incompatible they belong to different realms entirely.

Yet, embedded in Cummings’ wry observation is also a suggestion of emotional or psychological distance. Living beyond one’s income is not just a financial misstep; it can evoke a sense of disconnect between who we wish to be and what our circumstances can allow. The line prompts reflection on self-image and authenticity: to what extent does our projected lifestyle reflect our true selves, and when does it create a rift within our own identity?

Cummings thus manages, in one succinct sentence, to entertain, criticize, and evoke empathy. By framing a common predicament in terms of a personal relationship, he invites readers to recognize the humor and human folly inherent in our own attempts to bridge the gap between longing and reality. The result is both a comic and poignant portrait of the challenges of living in a world governed by wants and limits.