To continue with Catherine Daly on this beautiful, but Bush-mandated morning in the world. I mentioned Mina Loy and Catherine in one breath yesterday, but actually, her writing style is closer to Elsa Von Freytag Loringhoven’s telegraphic im/explosions from c.1927. (A few examples of the Baroness’ work can de found in the Die Young Archives on this site.) Mina Loy relied almost exclusively on alliteration in her memorable Lunar Baedeker, so there is a softening effect on the ear. There are also more concessions to grammar in Loy. Contiguity and juxtaposition take its place in much of Daly’s DaDaDa. Here’s an example:

Use

You syrupy you.
–adulate you!
You musical,
requisite naught,
treasure,
treasure.

You succor. You count.

During infatuation–torture’s surcease–
purchased,
precarious, burning trunk
doused,
you youth unspoiled,
gauze-camouflaged.
Struck, wounded outrageously.

Importune.

Naught surrounding bounding
clutches our universe thus.

Blunt suffering, suffering
upset, confused soul,
surcease.

**

Which is a good place, I believe to end this extended quote. This is the “telegraphic style” of writing and Catherine does it well. (As does Geraldine Monk and Cathy Wagner.) There’s an accumulative power generated by it, no doubt. It would be interesting to hear Catherine Daly read selections from DaDaDa. More on performance and the telegraphic style later.