"It takes three to make a child"

e. e. cummings’s assertion, “It takes three to make a child,” captures a subtle interplay between biology, emotion, and metaphysics. At surface level, the phrase points to the undeniable biological truth that, in human reproduction, two are necessary: a male and a female. Yet the poet argues for a third essential presence. This third element might first be interpreted as love, the intangible yet vital force that brings two people together and transforms a biological act into the miracle of creation. It is not simply the genetic contribution of two parents, but the willingness to merge, to open themselves to vulnerability, intimacy, and hope for the future. Love, then, allows for the completion and continuation of life, serving as a mysterious third party.

Cummings often concerns himself with the intangible, experiential aspects of human existence. Here, his poetic assertion embraces not just the physical union, but the ineffable spirit, the emotional spark or soul that infuses new life. The child becomes more than flesh; the child symbolizes a synthesis , the convergence of body, feeling, and perhaps, something transcendent.

Another layer to the statement considers the creative act itself. Creation flourishes not solely from physical action, but from a convergence of will, desire, and acceptance. The 'third' might be interpreted as the act of acceptance, the consent to nurture the unknown, to open oneself to the unpredictability of parenthood, and the courage to embrace future possibility. The third presence infuses meaning, giving depth to what would otherwise be a mere transaction of genes.

There is also space to understand the statement metaphysically: beyond male and female, there is the mystery of existence, the pulse of life that no mere physical union can guarantee. This life force, spirit, or creative energy completes the triad, making the existence of a child not just possible, but miraculous, existing at the junction of body, soul, and love.