Can anyone tell me the meaning behind ee cummings "the hours rise up putting off stars"?

Question

the poem as a whole, not just that line.

Answer 1

Dreaming is a state where the mind can be truly free.  When dawn comes, the world "goes forth to murder dreams."

When day comes, people drudge out of bed and work- "putting off stars."  He iterates this with the "brutal faces of people contented hideous hopeless cruel happy."

But when night falls once more, the city sleeps, and people can once again dream.

The city is personified the same as the people.

During the day, the city speaks, but does not see the poems walking in the sky (because of the light).  During night, the city is quiet, but sees the stars in the night streets.

The stars are the city's dreams, which are poems that it reads.

There is so much in this poem, I could write a paper on it.  But once you realize the personification of the city, it makes sense.

Answer 2

The stars are obliterated as the dark hours of night pass by and the sun arises, bringing the daylight.