Gertrude Stein is an innovator. The poem utilizes principles associated to cubism and applies it to the written language. Cubism is an abstract form that enhances the depth of objects by simplifying parts of the image into cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones. Much like the repetition of spheres and cubes, each phrase is a building block to create a verbal image. Each piece is slightly different making the concept recognizable.
This poem is expressed in five parts. The repeated phrases are in the form of a question, an answer, the person spoken too, the person speaking and the baby. The body of the poem is formed around "would," "could," and "should." These create intersecting lines between the established premises when, "Do you really think I should yes I should love all you with all me yes I should yes I could yes I would," in response to if they could love.
The soft tone is appealing like an intimate conversation. Finally, the question is asked without modifiers and ends with an odd twist. Alice B. Toklas was Gertrude Stein's life partner. She has decided loving Alice is the correct course of action, beyond any doubts. However, "bless my baby" is awkward since she never had children.
There are signs Stein wanted to raise children. She was from a large family and often participated in youth programs. In 1931, she became godmother to Ernest Hemmingway's son. While her love is unconditional, she wants her partner to understand her needs.
The vocabulary is simple, yet words are like shapes creating depth when imagining subject matter. Abstraction of written language and free-verse system are complimentary to contemporary styles of work. It follows a form and expresses a concept in relatively few words making it powerful through the thoughts provided.
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