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are treated simply as objects, as numbers and statistics in war, referencing the number of unknown and unidentified men who died for the few in power. His preoccupation with war was both personal and general in relativity, as it showed his criticism for what is known to be personally experienced and universally felt and recognized. It is the ironic nature in which it has been portrayed that is so convincing in cummings poetry.

e.e cummings was fond of relating man to nature, comparing its simplicity although power, the happiness and joy to be found in nature, with the ills of man and society. Pity this busy monster manunkind, not, dictates the way humanity is obsessed with its own expansion and greatness in the order of things, "plays with the bigness of its littleness", forgetting to care for what is left behind in the path of progress'. We are the finest specimen "of hypermagical ultraomnipotence" in our own opinion, thinking that the world will last through the destruction we continually cause it "listen, there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go". Despite degrading humanity, Cummings also implies that we are the victims of a comfortable disease, of progress and science, as well as that poets are the doctors or healers of nature that they know man is a hopeless case'. His explicit and frequent use of irony, along with manipulation of traditional sentence structure and word form is an essential part of conveying the main concerns or ideas and values behind his poems.
"Next to of course god America" is a satire about patriotism, nationalism and politics. Cummings mocks the idea that America is viewed as equal to god by fanatical nationalists, incorporating the American national anthem in its lines.

Cummings also includes his oft used theme of war, and criticizes the way history has been beautified and glorified despite the "roaring slaughter" that occurred, although its importance in shaping a nations image of itself is also noted. The poem is an excerpt of a speech, (finishing at) the last line "he spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water" giving the reader/audience the impression that it has been spoken by a politician, perhaps on election day to garner the support of such a patriotic country. The way in which it has been styled has the effect of a rushed, bitter and somewhat forced speech, washed down and swallowed by both the politician and his audience, also as a form of brainwashing in its own way. The glass of water gives the image of a nervous, sweating politician anxious to get his spiel out, and also inevitably makes a note on politics inability to disguise truth. It is this last line, the ironical final twist, that causes the reader to look further into the true meaning and sentiment behind the first verse. This reflection on politics and patriotism echoes Cummings preoccupation with and representation of society.

e.e cummings chose to reflect on a number of prominent themes and ideas that were relative both to himself and the rest of society, often writing satires to give his opinion on various ideas and values. The ironical way in which almost all of his poetry has been written is essential in portraying the truth in his seemingly childish and insensible, intelligible poems. Cummings is extremely effective in causing the reader to reflect in the various ideas represented in his poetry, as he was revolutionary in his extremely modern ideals for the time. Although cummings enjoyed employing and manipulating many poetic techniques as well as basic rules for written English, it was his utilization of satire and irony that were the most important, the most prominent and persuasive in his poetry, reflecting both the poet himself and society in general.

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