then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis

This quote from e.e. cummings encapsulates the poet's belief in living life fully and authentically. By urging his beloved to "laugh, leaning back in my arms," he emphasizes the importance of embracing the present moment and experiencing life with emotional depth. The metaphor "life's not a paragraph" suggests that life is not a neatly structured narrative; it's unpredictable and messy, much like the free verse style of the poem itself. Similarly, "death i think is no parenthesis" implies that death is not merely an interruption or aside to life’s story, but a significant part of the whole. Cummings challenges conventional perceptions of life and death, advocating for a philosophy where emotions and experiences take precedence over rigid structures and societal norms. His words encourage an uninhibited approach to life that defies conventional expectations and celebrates spontaneity and authenticity.