A Short Introduction to the Word
1
Hunt-the-Slipper. A flower calledA nursery game called
Lady-Slipper. Running in the
Gold Cup a horse called Slipper.
Drinking champagne out of
her Red Slipper. From thesemagic sources the development
of the word Slipper in my mind
so that it becomes the word internal
and therefore as such a part of
me as my eyes or feet.
2
Puma, Firedine, Sunelope, Yes, Ráhda,Names for girls: Clytoris,
Rãese.
3
Incircumscriptibleness, Anitdisestablishmentarianisms.Honorificabilitudinity,
4
which burns permanently inTake the word Sun
my brain. It has accuracy
and alacrity. It is monomaniac
in its intensity. It is a continual
flash of insight. It is the
marriage of invulnerability with Yes
of the Red Wolf, with the Gold Bumblee
of Madness with Rã.
5
Birdileaves, Goldabbits,
Fingertoes, Auroramor, Barabarific,
Parabolaw, Peaglecock, Lovegown,
Nombrilomane.
6
Actress and Poet,
Prizefighter and Princess, Aviator and Nun.
7
words to be single and by themselvesI understand certain
and deriving from no other words
as for instance the word I.
8
be avoided altogether.Certain words must
9
promise of words such as theThe intoxicating
words in her eyes.
10
Locomotive, Firecracker, Tornado, Galloper Light,Names of horses: The Arrow,
Trajectory, The Meteor, Fleetness, Velocity.
11
kiss-pretties = go to hell, jumping =Slang: snifetr = a little drink,
jumping into bed with someone hence
the expression ‘she’s a jumper,’
what’s the crêpe = how are you,
to put on a storm = to stage a wild party,
harra or harra burra = a cry of
enthusiasm, brunch = a combination
of breakfast and lunch, m. o. =
mutual orgasm, 34 ½ = ½ of 69,
d.b. = dumb blonde.
12
result in a given word—this
word having the distinguished
characteristics of unreality
being born neither as a result
of connotation nor of conscious
power and unlimited elimination.
How would Yes for instance flourish
among words such as dog or corset
or safety-pin or hot-water-bag or eunuch
force which guides the flight of
the soul
is as necessary as eating or as
taking exercise
February Barbaric and Catapult
March The Arrow
April Amor and Ra
June Invulnerability
July Meteoric Madness Velocity Sorcerers
August I Yes
the word Sorceress where the
word goes on even while the
attention is focused on entirely
different subjects just as in
swimming my arms and legs
go on automatically even
when my attention is focused
on subjects entirely different
from swimming such as
witchcraft for instance or
the sorceress
word that will serve for any other use
is seldom satisfactory.
should be qualitative rather than
quantitative.
word must differ from that of
drug provocative of sexual desire.
But for me it is the name of a yacht
and white as her great white sails
and has nothing whatever to dowith sexual desire.
in red lettering on a card
pinned to a bathing suit worn by a
wooden mannequin in a shop window at Deauville.
at the same time transfer its
absolute in its application
Phallic Thrust Propellor
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physical changes in the brainI believe that certain
result in a given word—this
word having the distinguished
characteristics of unreality
being born neither as a result
of connotation nor of conscious
endeavor Starlash
13
in the mind requires despoticThe evolution of a word
power and unlimited elimination.
How would Yes for instance flourish
among words such as dog or corset
or safety-pin or hot-water-bag or eunuch
14
merely an image but a directiveA word should be not
force which guides the flight of
the soul
15
constant repetition of certain wordsI believe that the
is as necessary as eating or as
taking exercise
16
January FireCalendar
February Barbaric and Catapult
March The Arrow
April Amor and Ra
June Invulnerability
July Meteoric Madness Velocity Sorcerers
August I Yes
September Slipper New Moon
17
word as for instance with meThere is the automatic
the word Sorceress where the
word goes on even while the
attention is focused on entirely
different subjects just as in
swimming my arms and legs
go on automatically even
when my attention is focused
on subjects entirely different
from swimming such as
witchcraft for instance or
the sorceress
18
the word is too often ignored—anyThe spiritual source of
word that will serve for any other use
is seldom satisfactory.
Time in regard to the word19
should be qualitative rather than
quantitative.
The significance of the20
word must differ from that of
daily life. This is important.
21
according to the dictionary is aThe word Aphrodisiac
drug provocative of sexual desire.
But for me it is the name of a yacht
and white as her great white sails
and has nothing whatever to dowith sexual desire.
22
the word.Always dominate
23
For the body of man a
hareem of houris for the brain of
man a hareem of words.
24
Sweet To Touch words writtenVery Nice To Look At And
in red lettering on a card
pinned to a bathing suit worn by a
wooden mannequin in a shop window at Deauville.
25
meat for brave men because theyThe flesh of lions is fit
at the same time transfer its
courage to themselves. So is the word
fit meat for brave minds because
they at the same time transfer
its courage to themselves. Take
the words Conqueror Meteoric
Attack Magnificent.
26
An aeroplane over Paris
trailing a long white banderole
on which is written in huge
letters the words Dry Gin.
27
I believe that inanimate
words as well as living words
contain stores of magical
force Stone or Star.
28
The root of the word
is to be sought in one’s own mind.
A word should be29
absolute in its application
Phallic Thrust Propellor
30
Explosion
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Há várias versões diferentes deste poema de Crosby. Esta é a versão
original do autor para a revista experimental transition, publicada em
Paris no final dos anos 1920.