E.E. cummings's "she being Brand/-new" appears to be, at its surface, a poem about a man taking his car for a spin and learning the nuances of his new vehicle. The imagery and descriptions cummings uses allows the reader to understand the various things that need to be broken in. The poem's narrator freely admits the car was "consequently a little stiff," which can be further seen in how the narrator felt the need to "oil the universal joint" and test the gas, and made sure the radiator was in good condition. The ritual the narrator employs allows the reader to see how he takes great care to make sure that the not only are his needs met, but also that he does not do any damage to the car. The narrator also comments that he was impressed by the first ride and the results of his approach to breaking...
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