ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

This book is the last and most political of Jabes' books and is "his response to the increasing racism and intolerance he witnessed in France and elsewhere during his last years, and at the same time it continues his ongoing meditations on representation, language, and meaning." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Edited by Reinhold Aman. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The text of this broadside begins, TO THE YOUNG WOULD-BE POET, FIRST SOME WARNINGS. NEVER Trust the heart - AVOID Whenever possible the the photographs of other poets even though you may admire them. NEVER Expect to discover a fruitful relationship with more than three other poets. Never Try to make people ashamed of thenselves. Never Try to make people respect you. Never Try to appear harmless and good. Never Try to influence politicians. Never Try to define poetry. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Book is designed with orange colored blank pages interspersed with tan colored pages onto which three to four line poems have been rubberstamped with blue ink. For example, one poem reads, "Ode: - The Society - of Design-Bookbinders - hide-bound." One poem in a larger font is stamped in light blue ink across two pages and reads, "We hardly see the moon anymore." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This is selected portion of the book in which Weiss has listed the page numbers of the aphorisms which relate to the theme of breathing. Also, he rewrote an aphorism on the title page that is printed in the book. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.