Buffalo Bill’s defunct

William F. Cody – aka Buffalo Bill Larger than life symbol of rugged America Cowboy Indian fighter Buffalo hunter Founder-The Wild West Show The most famous man in the world

Buffalo Bill’s defunct A poem by e e cummings

Buffalo Bill's defunct who used to ride a watersmooth-silver stallion and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat Jesus he was a handsome man and what I want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death

Common theme- death claims all Bill in action- breaking pigeonsjustlikethat Vitality and speed- watersmooth-silver “Handsome”- whole figure in action

The Poem Itself Self-portrait of an admiring but disdainful speaker Admires Bill’s skill and good looks Humorous indifference to Bill’s death using the world “defunct”

Bill the Destroyer Dreams of youth and innocence Hatred towards a culture that invites children to create unworthy heroes Bill - hero and charlatan Heroic deeds reduced to circus stunts

Bill the Destroyer Childhood- innocent faith and wonder Expectations of childhood and of America

Irreverence towards death “Mister Death” Is Death a spectator at a performance? Does it now become a character Question asked of Death “How do you like your blueeyed boy Does Death stand as a fatherly figure for the blueeyed boy (Bill)

Bill as the destroyer- an agent of Death Destroyed- the poet’s childhood Innocent faith and wonder Disappointing both his expectations of childhood and of America