19SHORT

SURREALISTWRITINGS

by

KayBoyle,AndreBreton,MalcolmdeChazal,SalvadorDali,MarcelDuchamp,JacquesDupon,

PaulEluard,MinaLoy,ReneMagritte,JoyceMansour,BenjaminPeret,

RaymoundQueneau,DortheaTanning,andPhillipeSoupault,

shorttextsavailableforanyonetoreadandproduce

1

ACOMPLAINTFORMANDM

IbelieveinthescenicrailwaysthathavenotrunyetbecausethescaffoldingisstillunsafeandinthebuildingstheyhavenothadtimetofinishIbelievethisyearandthistimeoftheyearthereisneverthetimetofinishonlythetimelefttobeginagain.

Ifitiswisertosaytoolittlethantomuchtherebeinglesstotakebackinanguishlaterthenitiseasiertosaytoomuchforitleavesthatmuchlesstocarryaboutintheveinsseekingtosayitornottosayitornottoremembertosayitortoforgetitisnotthingslikethisthatcanbesaid.

YoudidnotvisittheBelgianortheRussianortheItalianortheGermanpavilionsorrideupintheliftwiththesmellofrosesthickassmokebutsweeterinyoureyes.

YouwereexpectingManRayorNancyPerryorDaliorBrancusitocomeandsitinthegardenwiththetigerlilieswithyou.

YoudidnotcometotheParisexpositionof1937ontheopeningnightwhenIaskedyou.

YoudidnotseethefountainsfreshaslilacssprayingalongtheriverinthedarkOrthefanstheyhadboughtfortheoccasionmadeofbluelaceandusedinsteadofillumination.

YoudidnotwaitbehindthescenesinthewingsfortheactorstocomeandthecurtaintoriseOrthecuestobegiven.

YouwerenottherewhenthesearchlightspouredthemilkofavalanchesIntotheobliteratedalleyoftheSeine.

2

WhereyouwereyoucouldnotheartheromancandlesbreakingthewayglassbreaksunderafistOrsaywithathousandotherpeoplewhowerethereAhhhhwiththevoiceofonepersonAwedwhenthetoureiffelwastransformedtoburningwire,norcouldyouseeThefireworksclimblikelarksinspringtothoseexplosionsofindecipherablemysteryThatliberatemetalorsongmorevaluablethanmoneyis.

ThesavageryOfserpentsandbirdsimportedfromJapanpursuedtheirownincalculablewealthInemeralds,diamonds,rubiesandtopaz,writingandspiralingthroughthefirmament,Crashinginthirstandfrenzythroughthetropicunderbrushthatleafedinconflagratedsatin.

Trunkedinseethingpalmandcocoahairthesky'swildblisteringjungle.

Youhadpeopletodinner.Youcouldnotcome.YoudidnotseethesmallthickhoodedcandlesTheysetoutlikegondolasonthecurrent,driftinginslowflickeringformationlikefoldedgullsWithheartsignitedmovingalightupontheriver'sorthetide'sdeclining.

Theywereextinguishedonebyonebybreathorwindorbytheirowndefatigation(AsthecomplaintsIsetoutlightedinthedarkforyouexpireintheirpassageBecauseofthelongwaythroughsilencetheymustgo.)

KAYBOYLE

3

fromSENSPLASTIQUE

Abicyclerollsontheroad.TheroadisthethirdwheelRollingtheothertwo.

Thewatersaystothewave,Youareswallowingme.HowcouldI?Repliedthewave,Iamyourmouth.

ThedewSaidtothesun,Doyouseeme?No,saidthesun.Iamyoureyes.

WiththeirpeaksTwomountainsWeretouchingacloud.ForaninstantThecloudfeltTopsyturvyUnabletofindItshead.

WhenthefineSeizedthebranchThebranchgavewayAndtheflowerStuckitsheadoutToseewhatwasgoingon.

Fanningyourself?Notso.Thefan'sinthewind'shandThat'swhyYoufeelcool.

4

I'vegoneallthewayaroundTheEarth,Onemansaid.PoorfellowAndallthattimeYouhaven'tprogressedHalfaninchInyourbody.

ThepupilTurnedtheeyesTheirisfollowedThewhiteoftheeyeDelayedJustlongenoughFriendforyouToslipintothefaceOftheoneyoulove.

Iloveyou,Thewomansaid.Becareful,Saidherlover,Don'tlovemeToomuchOryou'llcomebackToyourselfLoveisround.

OneandoneMaketwoSaidthemathematician.What'sthatToGodandthezero?

5

CutwaterAsmuchasyoulikeNeverWillyoufindTheskeleton.TheskeletonofwindInlifeitself.

TheeyeIsaoneactorTheater.

AbsoluteMasteryOfthebodyComesonlyindeath.

I'llneverBeOldSaidthemanIhavehope.

EmptinessHasnoWayOut.

IflightunfurledItspeacocktailTherewouldbeNoroomForlife.

SugarDoesn'tknowWhatittasteslike.SomeoneTastingitGivessugarAtasteofsugar.

6

AstoneHearsitsheartbeatOnlyIntherain.

ThecircleIsanalibiForthecenterAndthecenterIsapretextForthecircle.

ThequickestrouteFromourselvesToourselvesIstheUniverse.

BlueAlwayshasAnideaUpitssleeve.

NightIsarimlessHole.

TheroadRunsInbothdirectionsThat'swhyItstandsstill.

TakemeNakedTheflowersaidTothesun,BeforeNightClosesMythighs

7

Thenoise,bitoffbitsofitselfAndleftItsteethAmongThekeysOfthepiano.

SheworeHersmilePinnedToherteeth.

LightDressedFortheafternoonWentToplaygolfWiththeholes.

ThelakeThismorningAfterAbadNightGotintoItstubTorelax.

ThewaveOutofitsdepthOntheshoreWentdown.

HewasInsuchahurryTogettolifeThatitLethimgo.

8

SheanchoredHerhipsInhiseyesAndbroughthimToport.

ThecarWillneverAttainThespeedOftheroad.

MALCOLMDECHAZAL

9

THEGREATMASTURBATOR

DespitethereigningdarknesstheeveningwasstillyoungnearthegreatstairwayhousesofagatewheretiredbythedaylightthatlastedsincesunrisetheGreatMasturbatorhisimmensenoserecliningupontheonyxfloorhisenormouseyelidsclosedhisbrowfrightfullyfurrowedwithwrinklesandhisneckswollenbythecelebratedboil

seethingwithantscametoreststeepedinthisstilltooluminoustimeoftheeveningwhilethemembranecoveringhismouthentirelyhardenedalongsidethealarmingtheeternalgrasshopperstuckclingingmotionlesstoitforfivedaysandnights.

AlltheloveandalltheecstasyoftheGreatMasturbatorresidedinthecruelornamentsoffalsegoldcoveringhisdelicateandsofttemplesimitatingtheshapeofanimperialcrownwhosefineleavesofbronzedacanthusreachedasfarashisrosyandbeardlesscheeksandextendedtheirhardfibersuntiltheydissolvedintheclearalabasterofhisneck.

10

Inordertoobtaintheicyappearanceofanancientornamentofanuncertainandhybridstylethatwouldmakepossibleanerrorthroughmimeticismofthecomplicatedarchitectureofthealleyandinordertorenderthedesirablehorrorofthisfleshtriumphant,rotting,stiff,belated,wellgroomed,softexquisite,downcast,marconized,beaten,lapidated,devoured,ornamented,punishedinvisibleoratleastunperceivedbythehumanfacethatresemblesthatofmymother...

SALVADORDALI

11

THEBRIDE

Ingeneral,iftheBridemotormustappearasanapotheosisofvirginity,thatistosayofignorantdesire,whitedesire(withatouchofmalice)andifit(graphically)doesnotneedtosatisfythelawsofbalance,neverthelessagallowsofshiningmetalmightstimulatetheattachmentofthemaidentoherfriendsandrelations...

BasicallytheBrideisamotor.Butmorethanbeingamotortransmittingitstimidpower,sheisthetimidpoweritself.Thistimidpowerisasortofessolene,essenceoflove.Whendistributedtothevirtuefrailtycylinders,andwithinrangeofthesparksfromherconstantlife,itcausestheexpansionofthisvirgin,nowcometothestateofherdesire...

Thiscinematicexpansioniscommandedbytheelectricundressing...

Thiscinematicexpansionexpressesthemomentofundressing...

Thiscinematicexpansion(commandedbytheelectricundressing)isthewholeimportanceofthepicture(graphically,assurface).Itis,ingeneral,thegloryoftheBride,thewholeofhersplendidvibrations:graphically,itisnotaquestionofsymbolizing,inanestaticpainting,thishappydesirestateoftheBride;itisonlythat,moreclearly,amidstallthisexpansion,thepaintingmaybeaninventoryoftheelementsofthisexpansion,theelementsofsexuallifeimaginedbytheBridedesirous.

MARCELDUCHAMP

12

AUTOFACIALCONSTRUCTION

Thefaceisourmostpotentsymbolofpersonality.

Theadolescenthasfacialcontoursinharmonywiththeconditionofhissoul.

Daybydaythenewinterestsandactivitiesofmodernlifeareprolongingtheyouthofoursouls,anddaybydaywearebecomingmoreawareofthenecessityforourfacestoexpressthatyouthfulness,forthesakeofpsychiclogic.

Differentsystemsofbeautyculturehavecompromisedourinherentrightnotonlytobeourselvesbuttolooklikeourselvesbyproducingafacialcontourinmiddleagewhichdoesdutyasawellpreservedappearance.

Thispreservationofpartiallydistortedmusclesis,atbest,merelyapleasingparodyofyouth.

Thatsubtleelementoftheludicrousinherentinfacialtransformationbytimeisthesignpostofdiscouragementpointingalongthepathoftheevolutionofpersonality.

Fortowhatendisourexperienceoflifeifdeprivedofafittingestheticrevelationinourfaces?

Oncedistortedmusclecausesafundamentaldisharmonyinselfexpression,fornomatterhowwellgownedorgroomedmenorwomenmaybe,howexquisitelythecomplexioniscaredfor,orhowbeautifultheexpressionoftheeyes,iftheoriginalformoftheface(intrinsicsymbolofpersonality)hasbeeneffacedinmusculartransformation,theyhavelostthepowertocommunicatetheirtruepersonalitiestoothersandallexpressionofsentimentisveiledinpathos.

13

Yearsofspecializedinterestinphysiognomyasanartisthavebroughtmetoanunderstandingofthehumanfacewhichhasmadeitpossibleformetofindthebasicprincipleoffacialintegrity,itsconservation,and,whennecessary,itsreconstruction.

Iwillinstructmenorwomenwhoareintelligentandforthebriefestperiod,patienttobecomemastersoftheirfacialdestiny.

Iunderstandtheskullwithitsmuscularsheathasaspherewhosesuperficiescanbevoluntarilyenergized.

Andthefoundationsofbeautyasembeddedinthethreeinterconnectedzonesofenergyencirclingthissphere:thecentersofcontrolbeingatthebaseoftheskullandthehighestpointofthecranium.

Control,throughtheidentityofyourConsciousWillwiththesecentersandzones,canbeperfectlyattainedthroughmysystem,whichdoesnotincludeanyformofcutaneoushygiene(thecareoftheskinbeinglefttotheskinspecialists)exceptinsofarasthestimulustocirculationitinducesisofprimaryimportanceintheconservationofallthetissues.

ThroughAutoFacialConstructiontheattachmentsofthemusclestothebonesarerevitalized,asalsothegums,andtheoriginalfacialcontoursarepermanentlypreservedasastructurewhichcanberelieduponwithoutanxietyastotheravagesoftimeastructurewhichComplexionCultureenhancesinbeautyinsteadofattemptingtodisguise.

14

Thismeansrenascenceforthesocietywoman,theactor,theactress,anatomicalscienceisexpensivebuteconomicalinresult,foritplacesatthedisposalofindividualsapermanentprinciplefortheindependentconservationofbeautytowhich,onceitismastered,theyhaveconstantandnaturalresource.

MINALOY

15

fromPERICOLOSOSPORGERSI

NakedIfloatamongthewreckagewithsteelmustachesRustedwithinterrupteddreamsBythesea'ssoftululationNakedIpursuethewavesoflightRunningonthesandstrewnwithwhiteskullsSpeechlessIhoverovertheabyssTheheavyjellywhichistheseaWeighsonmybodyLegendarymonsterswithpianomouthsLoungeaboutintheshadow'sgulfsNakedIamsleeping

LookI'mdisgustedwithmenTheirprayerstheirmanesTheirfaiththeirwaysEnoughoftheiroverwhelmingvirtuesDressedinbriefsI'vehadenoughoftheircarcassesBlessmemadlightbringontheheavenlypeaksIlongtobeemptyoncemorelikethepeacefuleyeOfinsomniaIlongtobeastaroncemore

IwillswimtowardsyouAcrossdeepspaceBorderlessAcidlikearosebudIwillfindyouamanwithnorestraintThisswallowedupingarbageSaintofthelastmomentAndyouwillmakeofmeYourbedandyourbreadYourJerusalem

Youdon'tknowmynightfaceMyeyeslikehorsesmadeforspaceMymouthstripedwithunknownbloodMyskin

16

MyfingersguidepostspearledwithpleasureWillguideyourlashestowardsmyearsmyshoulderbladesTowardstheopencountrysideofmyfleshThebleachersofmyribsdrawinattheideaThatyourvoicecouldfillmythroatThatyoureyescouldsmileYoudon'tknowthepallorofmyshouldersAtnightWhenthehallucinatingflamesofnightmarescallforsilenceAndwhenthesoftwallsofrealityembraceeachotherYoudon'tknowthattheperfumesofmydaysaredyingonmytongueWhenthecraftyonescomewiththeirknivesadriftwhenIplungeintothemudofnight

JOYCEMANSOUR

17

YOURFIGUREORTHEWARAGAINSTFAT

WHATYOUMUSTNOTDO:

1.HoldahandheldoutwithoutaprotectivegloveInstead,offertheothercheekAndspeak,speak,putonsomepowderAhandcanbearailingAfrictioner,orameetingBut,remember,Appetitecomeswhenyouareeating.

2.Goondiets.Eatwhatyouwantatnomatterwhathourofyourmiserableday.Youaremiserablebecauseyouarefat,withoutappeal,withouttrumpsorawaistorawaitingtime,apencilsharpenertowhittledownthewaspsstingingthelittletowers:inshort,youarealoneandyoudon'tlikethat,soyouareeatingtohavepeoplenoticeyou;youconsoleyourselfforyourlaughableattractionsbychewing;youareplungingintoyoursad,ugly,andanguishedfat.Butthecharmingsuccesseswhichmenaceyourchastitytaketheirdistancewitheverymouthfulofsoftness.Yournightmareswiththeirveterinaryfingersshakeupyourulcersandthosewrinkles,guzzlingmaxims,scratchyourfaceoffthemapofyouth.Yourfriendswilldotherest.Thereyouare,old...Eatwhatyoulike,deathwon'thesitatetotakeyou.

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3.Throwyourpoundsinthedirtylaundry...someoneelse's.Anyonecastingaspellshouldknowhowtoavoidthereturnshock.Morethanonecamouflagedwomanhasfoundherselfonthethresholdofthepsychiatricwardyoucan'tgetoutof,crippled,shapeless,anddefinitivelydisfigured.

4.Todullone'ssensestoomuchByusingTheelegant,encumbering,inoxydableCarvingknife,crashhashinsuperheatedbakelite;YouareriskingapileupinyourgenericensembleAndcapriciousdeathofyourrotatingknifeForfemaledismembermentishardtoadministerAndthefruitsqueezerofyourdreamscannotbemechanical.

WHATYOUMUSTDO:

BuyanelectriccleaverMakeamarinadeofyourfiguresimmeredwithoutmakeupInvokealittlemandogmatisingbetweeneachfatlayerMarinateyourlowerpartsinthesingularsauceofyourbitternessWetthesmokingoillittlebylittle,theovaryhuddlinginitselfThetotalextractionofyourgravydependsonit.

JOYCEMANSOUR

19

DREAM

Ihadtheimpressionthateverythingwasmistyandnacreousaroundme,withmultifariousandindistinctapparitions,amongstwhomhoweverwasonefigurethatstoodoutfairlyclearlywhichwasthatofayoungmanwhosetoolongneckinitselfseemedtoproclaimthecharacteratoncecowardlyandquarrelsomeoftheindividual.

Theribbonofhishathadbeenreplacedbyapieceofplaitedstring.

LaterhewashavinganargumentwithapersonwhomIcouldn'tseeandthen,asifsuddenlyafraid,hethrewhimselfintotheshadowofacorridor.

RAYMONDQUENEAU

20

fromBLINDDATE

Itmusthavebeenaverybleakwinterthatyear.

Ihavenorecollectionoftheweather,onlythemarvelousandrelentlessorderinwhicheverythingoccurred.

Itwasthetimethatthesewingmachinebrokeloose;nothingcouldhavebeenmoreinopportuneordiabolicallycalculatedtheleaveshadbeencarefullygatheredandstoredandnowtheyweretobesewntogether.

Theywereparticularlygoodleaves,Iremember,sereandthin,eachwiththetrackofthesnailunderside,exactlythekindofleafforabirthday,andnowthesewingmachinehadgone,fledwithoutawordofwarning.

Chagrined,unnerved,andwithaninexplicablefeelingofportent,itwasIwhosetoutinhopelesssearch.

ThemonthwasNovemberbutthedayhadnodate.

...amarvelouskindofsyntheticawarenessthatthewallpaperissingingtome.

Andthisisthesongofthewallpaper:

Stitchtheleavesthen,stitchthemcarefullyandwithregardfortheisolatedtimebeat.

Tremblealittleuponthethreshold.

Onefeignedtremorflungmagnanimouslytothatenormousslothwhichislegion.

21

Todayyouhavebeenborn,outofabysmalsorrowandknowledge,outofsymbols,destructions,words,pestilence,instrumentsacredandobscene,spasms,defilements;outofhates,andholocausts,gutsandgothicgrandeurs,frenzy,crimes,visions,scorpions,secretions,loveandthedevil.

Todayyoushallbemarriedtoyourfuture.

DOROTHEATANNING

22

BULLETIN

ThecolourlessgasesareinabeyanceTwothousandthreehundredscruplesSnowofthewellspringsSmilesareacknowledgedDon'tgivesailors'promisesThelionsofthepolesTheseatheseathenaturalsandThegreyparrotofpoorparentsCountrysojournoftheoceans7o'clockintheeveningNightofthelandofrabiesFinancesseasaltSummer'slovelyhandisalonetobeseenThecigarettesofthedying

ANDREBRETONandPHILIPPESOUPAULT

23

NOTESONPOETRY(excerpt)

Apoemmustbeadebacleoftheintellect.Itcannotbeanythingbut.

Debacle:apanicstampede,butasolemn,coherentone;theimageofwhatoneshouldbe,ofthestateinwhicheffortsnolongercount.

Inthepoet:theearlaughs,themouthswears;Itisintelligence,alertnessthatkills;Itissleepthatdreamsandseesclearly;Itistheimageandthehallucinationthatclosetheireyes;Itislackandthelacunathatarecreated.

ANDREBRETONANDPAULELUARD

24

GEORGIA

Ican'tsleepGeorgiaIshootarrowsintothenightGeorgiaI'mwaitingGeorgiaI'mthinkingGeorgiaThefire'slikesnowGeorgiaIheareverysinglesoundGeorgiaIseesmokeriseanddriftawayGeorgiaI'mwalkingsoftlyintheshadeGeorgiaI'mrunningThestreetsthefaubourgsGeorgiaHere'smycityIdon'tknowGeorgiaI'minarushhere'sthewindGeorgiaandthecoldsilenceandthefearGeorgiaIamfleeingGeorgiaIamrunningGeorgiathecloudsarelowtheywillfallGeorgiaIstretchoutmyarmsGeorgiaI'mnotclosingmyeyesGeorgiaI'mcallingGeorgiaI'mshoutingGeorgiaI'mcallingGeorgiaI'mcallingyouGeorgiaAreyoucomingGeorgiasoonGeorgiaGeorgiaGeorgiaGeorgiaGeorgiaIcan'tsleepGeorgiaI'mwaitingforyouGeorgia

PHILIPPESOUPAULT

25

EPITAPH:TRISTANTZARA

Who'sthat?Youdidn'tshakemyhandHearingyou'ddiedwelaughedsomuchWeworriedyouwereeternal

YourlastbreathYourlastsmile

NoflowersnowreathsJustthosetinycarsandbutterfliestenyardslong

YesIsawyourlookWhenIclosedyoureyesYousaidIshouldn'tbesadIweptallthesame

Theangelscameuptoyourbedsayingnothing

Deathisquitelovely

HowyoumustbelaughingbyyourselfNowwecan'tseeyouanymoreyourcane'sinthecorner

PeoplebroughtflowersEvenmadespeechesIsaidnothingIjustthoughtofyou

PHILIPPESOUPAULTt

26

THEDIFFICULTYOFTHESUN:CONCERNINGPIERREREVERDY

Whenonerefusesthetemptationsofanelsewhere,theillusionsofabeyond,themiragesofafuture.

Andwhenonestandsontheearth,asnearaspossibletothings,listeningtooneself,withone'seyesopen,stubbornly.

Andwhen,acrossfromyou,realityatit'sfullestrepulsesyoulikeasmoothwallwithnoescape.

Imprisonsyouandexilesyou.

Orwhenthesinglewindowundertheeaves,theskylightofthegarret,holdsyoucaptiveandisolatedfromtheworldinsplintersandslippingaway,whosediscordantparticlesslideendlesslyoveranilllitslope.

Andwheneventhesolidityofthewallthatyouseemtorunintoandwhichyourheadcouldatleastbeshatteredby,isonlyafoglifting.

Andformingagain,opening,forthetimeofapoem,ontothedebrisofalifedispersed...

27

Thepoethasnothingtosay.Hehasnothingtogiveexceptwhathehasnot.Nothingbutthis.

Neitherimpoverishingnorenriching.

Nothingelse,butwithamonotonousobstinacy,adesperatebitterness.

Sayingnothing,intheclosestproximityandwiththesimplestwords,sayingnothingbutthethingofeachinstant,finallygiveswings...

Thedailybread,thedailynothingness.

Apricelesspoverty.

Whichgnawsdullyattheheartandfortifieshungerlikesomereasonforbeingandforenduring,thetouchstoneofapoetics...

Wind,oremptiness,ornothing...

Anardentpoverty,frothofsolitude,essenceofsingletone.

Thatpoet,thatis,noone,beforethewallwhicharrestsusandwhichhetraverses,continuestowriteonthesandandthedust...

Thelesshehastogivethemorehegives.Hekeepsspaceopen.

Andthesunbeginsaperilousascent.

JACQUESDUPON

28

SQUARINGTHECIRCLE(transcribedintoaradioplaybyRichard)

(narrator:)SQUARINGTHECIRCLEAplaybyReneMagritteAct1TheCount(returningfromastroll)

(count:)Ihavemislaidmywaterproof.

(narrator:)TheCountess

(countess:)Goodgracious!It'sasifweareallinadream.Areweawakeorsleeping.

(narrator:)Shecallsthebutler.

(countess:)Baptiste!Baptiste!

(narrator:)EnterBaptiste.ContinuestheCountess.

(countess:)Ah!Thereyouare.Tellme,Baptiste,areweawakeordreaming?

29

(narrator:)Baptiste

(baptiste:)Thereisevidencebothforandagainst,myLady.Rationally,thereisnowayIcanprovethatyouarenotpurelyafigmentofmyimagination.

(narrator:)ActTwoTheCountesstotheCount

(countess:)No,nottonight,Iamindisposed.

(narrator:)ActThreeTheCounttoBaptiste

(count:)Althoughyouarenotfrommysocialsphere,Baptiste,Ifeeltheneedforaphysicalrelationshipwithyou.

(narrator:)Baptiste

(baptiste:)Verywell,Milord.InordertomakeroomforyouImustfirstgoforacrap.

(narrator:)Curtain

30

PROVERBSFORTODAY

Hewhobestirshimselfislost.

Cherriesfallwheretextsfail.

Faithfulasafilletedcat.

Onealbinodoesn'tmakeasummer.

Onegoodmistressdeservesanother.

Acrab,byanyothername,wouldnotforgetthesea.

Sparethecradleandspoilthechild.

Icame,Isat,Ideparted.

Thefurthertheurnthelongerthebeard.

Beatyourmotherwhileshe'syoung.

Whenreasonisaway,smileswillplay.

Coldmeatlightsnofire.

Ashadowisashadowallthesame.

Whywasteropehangingyourself.

Grasptheeyebythemonocle.

Whohearsbutmehearsall.

AcorsetinJulyisworthahordeofrats.

Maketwoo'clockwithoneclock.

Bettertodieoflovethantolovewithoutregret.

Breakingtwostoneswithonemosquito.

31

Mazesare'tmadefordogs.

Neverwaitforyourself.

Correctyourparents.

PAULELUARDandBENJAMINPERET

PROVOCATIONS

HewhosleepswiththePoperequireslongfeet.

Ifyouseeapriestbeingbeaten,makeawish.

Forgoodluck,nailupconsecratedhostsinthebathroom.

Whenpassingacemetery,throwsomerubbishoverthewall,thisbringsgoodluck.

Intheautumn,lightthefirstfireinthehearthwithacrucifix.thisbringsgoodfortune.

32

THEORIGINALJUDGEMENT

Donotread,lookatthedesignscreatedbythewhitespacesbetweenthewordsofseverallinesinabookanddrawinspirationfromthem.

Giveyourhandtootherstokeep.

Donotgotobedontheramparts.

Putbackonthearmorthatyoutookoffwhenyoureachedtheageofreason.

Putorderinitsplace,upsetthecobblesintheroad.

Ifyoubleedandyouareaman,wipethelastwoodofftheslate.

Formyoureyesbyclosingthem.

Givetodreamsyouhaveforgottenthevalueofwhatyoudonotknow.

Ihaveknownthreefootplatemen,fivefemalelevelcrossingkeepersandonemalelevelcrossingkeeper.Whataboutyou?

Donotpreparethewordsyouyell.

Liveindesertedhouses.Theyhaveonlybeenlivedinbyyou.

Makeabedofcaressesforyourcaresses.

Iftheycomeknockingatyourdoor,writeyourlastwisheswiththekey.

33

Robthemeaningfromthesound;therearemuffleddrumsinamongthepaledresses.

Singofthegreatpityofmonsters.BringtomindallthewomenstandingontheTrojanhorse.

Donotdrinkwater.

Liketheletterlandtheletterm,nearthemiddleyouwillfindawingandaserpent.

Speakaccordingtothemadnessthathasseducedyou.

Clotheyourselfinglitteringcolors,itisnotthedonething.

Whatyoufindbelongstoyouonlysolongasyouholdoutyourhand.

Liewhilebitingyourjudgesermine.

Youaretheprunerofyourownlife.

Letthedawnstokeuptherustofyourdreams.

Learntowait,withyourfeetforward.Thatishowyouwillgooutonedaysoon,andwellwrappedup,too.

Lightuptheperspectivesoftiredness.

Sellwhatyouneedtoeat,andbuysomethingtostarvewith.

Givethemasurprisebynotconfusingthefutureoftheverb'tohave'withthepastoftheverb'tobe.'

Betheglazierwithastoneembeddedinthebrandnewpane.

Ifsomeoneaskstoseetheinsideofyourhand,showthemtheundiscoveredplanetsintheheavens.

34

Onthesetday,youwillcalculatetheravishingdimensionsoftheleafinsect.

Touncoverthenudityofthewomanyoulove,lookatherhands.Herfaceislowered.

Separatechalkfromcoal,andpoppiesfromblood.

Semicolons;seehowamazingtheyare,eveninpunctuation.

Liedown,getup,andnowliedown.

Untiltheneworder,thenewmonasticorder,whichistosayuntilthemostbeautifulyoungwomentaketowearingadecolletecutintheformofacross:withthetwohorizontalbranchesuncoveringthebreasts,thefootofthecrossnakedatthebaseofthebelly,slightlysinged.

Fromallthathasaheaduponitsshoulders,abstain.

Matchyourgaittothatofstorms.

Neverkillanightbird.

Lookattheflowerofthebindweed;itdoesnothelpyoutohear.

Misstheapparenttargetwhenyoushouldbepiercingyourownheartwiththearrow.

Performmiraclessothatyoucandenythem.

Beasoldastheagedravenwhosays:Twentyyears.

35

Watchoutforthefishwivesofgoodtaste.

Drawinthedusttheuninterestedgamesofyourboredom.

Donotseizethetimetostartafresh.

Arguethatyourhead,unlikethehorsechestnut,isentirelyweightlessbecauseithasnotyetfallen.

Sugarwithasparktheotherwiseblackpilloftheanvil.

Think,withoutbattinganeyelid,whatswallowscouldbelike.

Writeimperishablyinsand.

Correctyourparents.

Donotkeepaboutyouthingsthatdonotoffendcommonsense.

Justthinkthatthiswomanfitsintothreewordsandthatthehillisanabyss.

Sealthetruelovelettersthatyouwritewithacommunionwaferprofaned.

Donotforgettosaytotherevolver:I'mdelighted,butIdothinkIhavemetyousomewherebefore.

Thebutterfliesoutsideareonlytryingtojoinupwiththebutterfliesinside:donotreplaceinyourself,ifitshouldhappentogetbroken,asinglepaneofthestreetlamp.

Comdemnwhatispurepurityiscondemnedinyou.

Observethelightinthemirrorsoftheblind.

36

Wouldyouliketoownatoncethesmallestandthemostdisturbingbookintheworld?Havethestampsfromyourlovelettersboundupandweepinspiteofeverything,thereisgoodreasontodoso.

Neverwaitforyourself.

Lookcloselyatthosetwohouses:inoneyouaredeadandintheotheryouaredead.

Thinkofmewhoamspeakingtoyou;putyourselfinmyplacetoanswer.

Beafraidofwalkingtooclosetothewallhangingswhenyouarealoneandyouhearyournamecalled.

Withyourownhandswringoutyourbodyoverotherbodies:acceptthisprincipleofhygienewithoutflinching.

Onlyeatbirdsthatareinleaf:theanimaltreemaybesubjecttoautumn.

YourfreedomwithwhichyoumakemelaughuntilIcryisyourfreedom.

Makethefogrunawayfromitself.

Seeingthatthemortalnatureofthingsdoesnotbestowonyoutheexceptionalpoweroflasting,hangyourselfbytheroot.

Leaveittothestupidpillowtowakeyouup.

Cutdowntreesifyouwill,andbreakrockstoo,butbeware,bewarethepallidlightofutility.

Ifyoulookatyourselfwithoneeye,closetheother.

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Donotabolishthesun'sredbeams.

Takethethirdstreetontheright,thenthefirstontheleft,youwillcometoasquare,turnthecornerbythecafeyouknow,takethefirststreetontheleft,thenthethirdontheright,stickyourstatueonthegroundandstayput.

Withoutthinkingwhatyouwilldowithit,pickupthefanthatwomandropped.

Knockonthedoor,shoutComein,anddonotgoin.

Youhavenothingtodobeforedying.

ANDREBRETONandPHILIPPESOUPAULT

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