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Beyond the page, Painting by words, say what you see - see what you say, sketchy letters, You shall quench my thirst and I shall feed you fruit - though time takes my seed
I came across an article in The Public Domain Review the other day that was interesting, and reminded me of one of my favourite books – ‘House of Leaves’ by Mark Z Danielewski.
In 1918 the French writer Guillaume Apollinaire produced an unusual book. It had, scattered within its pages type that was formed into shapes and patterns. This odd way of writing was then granted his name, and such patterns are known as calligrams. The tome below is in French, so I have little idea as to what he’s saying, however the way it is written makes it entertaining none the less. I’ve been unable to find a translation as of yet.
The original article is in full at the link below-
Apollinaire’s Calligrammes (1918)
I have cherry picked some of the choicest pages for you, and then a few from ‘House of Leaves’ too. I love the way the words make you have to physically move the book, and yourself at times to find out what happens, to fall through the pages.
Mr Appolinaire’s offerings
The man himself.
And here, only a couple from ‘House of Leaves‘ as the rest should be discovered by the reader in context nods –
Esme's Cloud 
That is an odd book!
Happy weekend dear one
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Variety is the spice of life eh?! Indeed. I like a spot of odd of an afternoon. Happy weekend to you too mak my friend. smiles
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So the French can’t write straight? Tubularsock can understand that while one is reading in the clouds one could be able to move accordingly but if you are on land then the task becomes …… well a task.
It does go up against that rule all of Tubularsock’s teachers told him, “stay within the lines” when you write. But now Tubularsock has been supported by your examples sonmi upon the Cloud so fuck those teachers!
Thanks sonmi for freeing Tubularsock’s letters so they can follow their own direction.
FREE THE LETTERS!
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“so fuck those teachers! Thanks sonmi for freeing Tubularsock’s letters so they can follow their own direction. FREE THE LETTERS!”
EXACTLY!! Break the rules and find a whole new, wild and weird world within those wonky words. opens all the cages with a flourish of her cape and lets the letters out
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“Freaky”, is how I’d describe it. But, this would not be surprising to someone already well aware of my inherent fear of the words that may lie between the covers of books.My mouth contorts (it really did) as the words I know are there (lurking on the pages (grossly) remind me of the last ones I dared to read oh those many years ago. However, luckily, quick thinking as I am, I uttered a spell always guaranteed to provide me an escape from all this which is (in case you may one day find yourself in a similar need) “Well, this is just nonsense”.
-The President and Founder
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“remind me of the last ones I dared to read oh those many years ago.” – It was the following words you read last that had ye afeared so long ago wasn’t it?
‘There was a young gal name of Sally
Who loved an occasional dally.
She sat on the lap
Of a well-endowed chap
Crying, “Gee, Dick, you’re right up my alley!”‘ – (anonymous)
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I know what the second image says – “here’s looking at you kid.”
As for the français, well, it might as well be Greek…
We’re just making shit up as we plod along.
:}
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It certainly speaks by form alone winks
“We’re just making shit up as we plod along.” – Horribly true.
thanks for the visit Don smiles
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It scares me and I don’t like it. I only clicked Like out of respect for the Cloud. So there.
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wraps him in a big, striped, patchwork blanket, like a giant mummy and spoons hot brandy and ice-cream into his mouth until the fever passes.
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My reply has disappeared! You saw it though, I saw you liked it. I’ll see if I can find the bugger again. This is an outrage!
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I found the link to it…it says…”403 Forbidden”.
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Wow – a “403 Forbidden” comment. Jeez sonmi, what the hell got into you?
Aitch shaking in shocked disapproval and disbelief.
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It’s Peter. He has me swearing like a bastard all the time. Not me at all.
sonmi aheming and morphing upon the Cloud
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Still, a 403 violation. That’s pretty sick. And not good sick. Not young ‘sick’. Old ‘sick’. Bad ‘sick’. Sheesh.
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walks onto the stage, paper in hand, and recites the following to a hushed crowd –
“AHEM….
The Sick Rose By William Blake…
O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
Thank you.” – bows and pegs it
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Utter filth! 😮
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moons at him the puts two fingers up (in the air, tsk)
s.u.t.C
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In light of the ### forbidden (I dare not write it, fearing the wrath I’m not even thinking it) I hereby deny all and any knowledge of having ever seen, read, or Liked your reply to my comment.
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It’s all lies your honour, he was in on it from the start. It was all his idea anyway. I refer the honourable judge to the following lyrics by Madness, which I feel sum up my innocence, and Peter’s culpability in the matter clearly –
I tell you I didn’t do it
‘Cause I wasn’t there
Don’t blame me, it just isn’t fair
You listen to their side
Now listen to mine
Can’t think of a story
Sure you’ll find me sometime
Now pass the blame and don’t blame me
Just close your eyes and count to three
(One two three)
Then I’ll be gone and you’ll forget
The broken window, t.v. set
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It’s back! Twas in my spam box. I kid you not, my own reply was shoved into the spam folder by askimet!,
Sonmi irritated by the powers that be and taking action anon upon the Cloud.
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Interesting indeed. I find all language forms, even though I may not understand them interesting to either look at or listen too. It was interesting that out of these I chose ‘il pleit’ & the last one- both being the most ‘straight’?
I’ve used the word interesting far too much within this comment, how intresting
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Mais il est très, très intéressant! Very much so. Communication with the written word, with twigs, with quills, with finger paint…’make your mark’ they say. And so we do. Many of them. It’s interesting stuff. I like them all so much I gave up trying to choose. I could happily have them framed on the wall at all angles. I might even do so. I’m glad you enjoyed it Jessie smiles
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Je l’aime cela!
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Moi aussi. And I went all French on the comment box before I saw yours too!
considers how wise it is to say she ‘went all French’ on the comment box, but thinks she might get away with it.
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This Guillaume Apollinaire – what’s his angle then?
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falls about after the penny has dropped, then chucks a groan his way.
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Groan duly added to the vast collection lobbed this way from the Cloud.
Aitch noting the need to be far more circumspect with tangential offerings.
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“far more circumspect with tangential offerings.” – ooooh get you – holds a handbag up to her chin.
The Cloudster.
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Tangential:
In geometry, the tangent line (or put simply ‘tangent’) to a plane curve at a given point is the straight line that just touches the curve at that point. Leibniz defined it as the line through a pair of infinitely close points on the curve. The angle between two curves at a point where they intersect is defined as the angle between their tangent lines at that point. More specifically, two curves are said to be tangential at a point if they have the same tangent at a point, and orthogonal if their tangent lines are orthogonal.
“This Guillaume Apollinaire – what’s his angle then?”
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raises the handbag above her head and waggles it about with another “ooooooooooh”
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Truly fascinating. I wish my French were better to translate it.
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Yes, me too. I can order a baguette in French anywhere in the world mind you – buffs her nails on her sleeve.
Seriously though, I would like to find out what he’s saying, but have found no translation online. Then again, perhaps it is better to remain ignorant in bliss in case the subject matter be a poor show. I suspect not, he clearly has some interesting gubbins in that brain of his.
Thanks for that acflory – smiles.
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A friend may help out coz I’m horribly curious too!
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Oooh do let me know, even if tis just a couple of pages!
sonmi nodding upon the Cloud
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I’ve pointed him to your post. -fingers crossed-
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Excellent. – smiles.
s.u.t.Cloud
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“He” found some good translations. Here’s one :
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Brilliant! Thank you, I’ll do an additional post soon showing people. beams a smile out
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I was just the go-between – but I’m thrilled at the result. 🙂
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And another:
http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjacket2.org%2Fsites%2Fjacket2.org%2Ffiles%2Fcommentary-images%2FApollinaire-Little-Car.gif&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjacket2.org%2Finterviews%2Fscience-informed-readings&h=335&w=450&tbnid=m_eNcGorpRLYvM%3A&docid=5TE5XqLMPo9BLM&ei=jCpfVt64GMbsarCpn5AP&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1758&page=1&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=0ahUKEwjervP32b3JAhVGthoKHbDUB_IQrQMIMDAG
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Love it. Many thanks acflory, well done that woman, and thanks to zeuslyone too. waves.
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😀
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Very pretty. But as someone who aims for their words to be read, I can’t say I recommend the layout.
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It’d put a great deal of people off I think. A treat for bods like sonmi though smiles.
The Cloudy girl
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No translation needed. Just strong arms to turn the book in various directions.
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Making it up as you go along eh? And why not, also, books like this are an excellent form of upper arm exercise. Bingo-wing banishers. smiles
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I’m wondering how many will get the reference to a certain seventies mini-driver Jurassic dinosaur type pop group person.
I know RS will!.
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I’ll bet she did yes. There is always something interesting hidden within the Cloud winks.
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Oh, and as for the writing …. je ne comprends pas. So there!
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No one likes a show off dear. Hahahahaha.
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Google translate est mon ami.
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Moi aussi. nods.
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Tres bien … Je go to le Kitchen pour some coffee.
Au revoir for now.
Le cyber hug
😉
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En fuskare efter mitt eget hjärta – skrattar – kramar honom tillbaka . .
Esme the cunning linguist upon the Cloud
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Sprays coffee over the PC…
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Pingback: These Are A Few of the Gifts Esme Brings . . . | Esme's Cloud
Steve
Lots (auction lot, parking lot, your lot etc) of Love
I’d be happy to photo and send over to you?
Did you find this in English?
I had a copy but I didn’t get into it. I’ve written like this myself…. Around the turn of the century.
me
ES
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They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot . . . hahahahaha.
What are you offering to send a photo of? I get all sorts here you know. falls about But really, what?
I found it in English thanks to Meeka in the comment thread, it winds on in a thin line so might not be terribly clear.
‘I had a copy but I didn’t get into it’ – Do you mean House of Leaves? It’s an incredible journey into the human mind (and other bits) I find. An experience of sorts but one only some would be arsed with and that’s no reflection of cleverness or anything at all. It’s pure art to me because I’m so nuts about words and how they can be sculpted.
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