38 Comments
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Jim Cummings's avatar

That was great Terry. Parts of it were very Camus-like, or at least reminded me of that style.

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Terry Freedman's avatar

Thanks, Jim. I've not read much of Camus, despite having bought a couple of his books. They are part of the section of my bookshelves called Books That I think I ought to Read or at least give the impression that I've read, which I've adapted or adopted from Calvino.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

I know exactly what you mean, brother. Never enough time.

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Martha Nichols's avatar

I like it! David Bowie did a lot of this kind of deliberate experimentation with word order, too :-)

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Martha Nichols's avatar

I heard clips of Bowie chatting about his word-cutting method at the Bowie exhibition a few years back (saw it in Lindon and in Melbourne) - he might even have mentioned Oulipo - you can hear it on albums like Station to Station and Low

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Terry Freedman's avatar

Did he? I didn't know that, Martha. Are there any examples in particular you liked?

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

Blimey, Terry - and you thought YOU had a headache....?!!! 🤪

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Terry Freedman's avatar

LOL. Sorry, Rebecca!

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

🤣

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just mud by Ron's avatar

Be a thinking, maybe a second opinion on that mild concussion at the urgent care! But then, this could be someone before coffee. Alot of fun, Terry.

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Terry Freedman's avatar

LOL. Thanks, Just.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Whoah, this was trippy Terry. Feels completely different and as though there is a lot of hidden meaning purely by these scattered words! Curious to know about the method you employed.

Also, "synchysis". What a word!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

"Trippy" is right! Method will be unveiled in my next Behind the scenes post 😁

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Look forward to it. I'm one behind actually, will get to your other one later today :)

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Terry Freedman's avatar

Hope you enjoy it.it's a bit long

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Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

Well done! Delightfully daft. Much more potent for long-term readers as we already have those words running around in our heads anyway. (I’m amazed it only took you five hours!)

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Terry Freedman's avatar

Thank you so much, Beth. "Delightfully daft": my new Byline 😂

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Rebecca Holden's avatar

🤣

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Donna McArthur's avatar

Way to pull off a difficult piece Terry. I like that after much prevarication he walked through the wall, and got a concussion!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

😁 That's logical, isn't it, if one suspends one's disbelief!

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Donna McArthur's avatar

Absolutely! I am often pleased when I accomplish nothing. It’s a frequent occurrence.

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Terry Freedman's avatar

LOL I shall start a club for nothing-achievers, if I can be bothered 🤣

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Donna McArthur's avatar

I’m reading this on my phone so couldn’t reference the piece before I posted my comment. I meant I like that he was pleased but accomplished nothing!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

story of my life, Donna! 🤣

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Never seen something like this one (besides activities in order changing in a single line of verse). The effect is wonderful because it also plays with the rhythm of the language much more.

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Terry Freedman's avatar

Thanks, Kathleen. I found it quite difficult! there's a version in Queneau's Exercises in Style but it doesn't make much sense. I wanted mine to at least make some sort of sense!

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

I was wondering how long this took you??

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Terry Freedman's avatar

If I tell you, your admiration for my productivity will dwindle to nothing. You will unsubscribe, and stop commenting, such will be the extent of your disillusion.

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Ha. Keep it a secret!

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Terry Freedman's avatar

I did it in two parts, and I think altogether it too -- you won't believe this -- around five hours 😱

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Wow! But if you were enjoying the process then that’s great. I hope you enjoyed the process! 😂

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Sep 19, 2023
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Terry Freedman's avatar

Latin poetry? Good grief.

It sounds like he's escaped from a fantasy novel to me, so not too dissimilar!

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Sep 19, 2023
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Terry Freedman's avatar

LOL. You could be right. One of my favourite plays is Six Characters in Search of An Author.

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Sep 19, 2023
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Terry Freedman's avatar

ooh, I had to look at word up. Well played, Sir. I like using 'different' words, and now I've bin hoisted with my own petard.

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