Exploration of E.E Cumming’s ‘Next to of Course God America I’ and John Agard’s Poem, ‘Flag’

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Both poems feature a range of strategies and techniques to feature similar and different points, such as how both poems contain certain criticisms towards the ideals and values carried by blind patriotism. ‘Flag’ explores how patriotic symbols can unite masses and nations together and yet, can also influence people to create barriers against one another, eventually forcing them apart. While E.E Cummings was infamous for his views on pacifism, and uses ‘next of course god america i’ as a method to criticise how people encourage patriotism in others, making the poem satirical. In both poems, the poets explore the power of patriotic symbols, such as the uses of flags, the national anthem and the pledge of alliance. In the poem ‘Flag’, John Agard states that the flag is just a piece of cloth fluttering in a breeze but is capable of bringing “a nation to its knees”, which can be seen as a sign of respect or oppression. John Agard uses the word “cloth” to emphasise its fragility, and yet it still possesses a high amount of power over people. Similarly, E.E Cummings uses America’s national anthem “oh say can you see”. The references made in ‘next to of course god america i’ shows that the speaker isn’t speaking from the heart, but is regurgitating worn out lines that they have previously heard, highlighting that they no longer carry meaning and is possibly emphasising how patriotism can be empty. E.E Cummings also includes a line from a well-known pop song of the time “by gee by gosh by gum”, reducing the effects of the speaker and watering down the meaning of the patriotic symbols used. Secondly, both poets explore the power that patriotic views and values have over people. In ‘Flag’, John Agard mentions the flag rising over a tent, suggesting that patriotic views were carried in conflict several years ago and presents that patriotic views are timeless. He then follows

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