Question

why did e. e. cummings write the poem Mariann Morre


--M in a vicious world-to love virtue
A in a craven world-to have courage
R in a treacherous world-to prove loyal
I in a wavering world-to stand firm

A in a cruel world-to show mercy
N in a biased world-to act justly
N in a shameless world-to live nobly
E in a hateful world-to forgive

M in a venal world-to be honest
O in a heartless world-to be human
O in a killing world-to create
R in a sick world-to be whole

E in an epoch of UNself-to be ONEself

Answer 1

Moore and cummings were part of a group of poets who exemplified the early 20th century. They were friends and "fellow commentors" on the times they lived in.

Here is an interesting site on Moore. Check out her bio, and her essay on poetry.

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/moore/moore.htm

This is an analysis of Moore's style, which will give you an idea of why cummings wrote the poem as he did
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE2DE1F3FF937A35752C0A9629C8B63

Here is a site to some letters that Moore wrote to her fellow poets.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16808

Answer 2

P.S.

Main Entry: acros·tic
Pronunciation: &-'kros-tik, -'kräs-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French & Greek; Middle French acrostiche, from Greek akrostichis, from akr- acr- + stichos line; akin to steichein to go —more at STAIR
Date: 1530
1 : a composition usually in verse in which sets of letters (as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet
2 : ACRONYM
- acrostic also acros.ti.cal adjective
- acros·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb