The following story has been written in accordance with a constraint, in true Oulipian style. The Oulipo is a writing movement based on constraints, such as omitting the use of a particular letter when composing a text.
Can you identify the constraint I used in the following story? Ignore all punctuation except a full stop. One word has no letters.
Now. I held a great interview of Eccles cakes and angst, paranoia, demagogic Tamarisk –
Coheasible and, so far, welcomer¡
What theses in excess!
What say you, Rhodites?
All of conduct consigned – crump!
, oh Mestizos, Anableps!
Such a desirable journal, a fungal phantasma
For neophobic guerrilla and vocular chaos, I!
I’ll be running a one-day workshop on writing with constraints in London on 8th June. Details here: Creative writing with constraints.
You do not use the word "the"
These lines could also be scattered into various chapters of a new edition of Ulysses and no one would be the wiser.
I don't get it. But I kind of like it. ( Sort of like my second husband...)