Can you help me understand this poem (if strangers meet by e e cummings)?

Question

if strangers meet
life begins-
not poor not rich
(only aware)
kind neither
nor cruel
(only complete)
(~)i not not you
not possible;
only truthful
-truthfully,once
if strangers(who
deep our most are
selves)touch:
forever

(and so to dark)

I think it's talking about your first impression of a stranger, and how you don't know whether they're rich or poor, nice or mean, etc. But don't get most of it after the (~). When he says "i not not you/ not possible," does he mean 'i can't reject you, it's impossible' or someting like that? any help is appreciated! thanks!

Answer 1

Okay this is what I'm getting from this poem. When strangers meet, a new relationship starts. When you meet someone new, it at there very first instant it doesn't matter if their poor or rich, they just are. same with being kind or curel. They just are, however if two strangers touch, that link in the chain is there forever. think of people as missing links to a larger chain. once two strangers meet they are linked forever. It doesn't matter who they are as people, in the grand scheme of things they're linked. as for the "i not not you, not possible, only turthfull" part. i think that just means, that you are no longer just you and i am no longer just i, it's not possible for us to be a missing link in the chain of life.

That's just what I got from the poem. Who knows if it's right or wrong.