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A Book Concluding With As a Wife Has a Cow: A Love Story
Paperback book
27 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
Gertrude Stein
418 books1,210 followersGertrude Stein was an American writer who spent most of her life in France, and who became a catalyst in the development of modern art and literature. Her life was marked by two primary relationships, the first with her brother Leo Stein, from 1874-1914, and the second with Alice B. Toklas, from 1907 until Stein's death in 1946. Stein shared her salon at 27 rue de Fleurus, Paris, first with Leo and then with Alice. Throughout her lifetime, Stein cultivated significant tertiary relationships with well-known members of the avant garde artistic and literary world of her time.
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January 21, 2022
KEY TO CLOSET.
There is a key.
There is a key to a closet that opens the drawer. And she keeps both so that neither money nor candy will go suddenly, Fancy, baby, new year. She keeps both so that neither money nor candy will go suddenly, Fancy baby New Year, fancy baby mine, fancy.
HAPPY TO HAVE.
She does happen to have an aunt and in visiting and in taking a flower she shows that she is well supplied with sweet food at home otherwise she would have taken candies to her aunt as it would have been her sister. Her sister did.
RIGHT AWAY.
Active at a glance and said, said it again. Active at a glance and then to change gold right away. Active at a glance and not to change gold right away.
FISH.
Can fish be wives and wives and wives ad have as many as that. Can fish be wives and have as many as that.
PINK
Pink looks as pink, pink looks as pink, as pink as pink supposes, suppose.
[…]
BESIDE.
It can be known that he changed from Friday to Sunday. It can also be known that he changed from year to year. It can also be known that he was worried. It can also be known that his fellow-voyager would not only be attentive but would if necessary forget to come. Everybody would be grateful.
IN QUESTION.
How large a mouth has a good singer. He knows. How much better is one colour than another. He knows. How far away is a city from a city. He knows. How often is it delayed. He knows.
MUCH LATER.
Elephants and birds of beauty and a gold-fish. Gold fish or a superstition. They always bring bad luck. He had them and he was not told. Gold fish and he was not old. Gold fish and he was not to scold. Gold fish all told. The result was that the other people never had them and he knew nothing of it.
NEGLECTED AND NEGLECTFUL.
She needed it all very well and pressed her, she needed it all very well and as read, to read it better a letter and better, to read it and let her it all very well.
AND SOUP.
It has always been a test of who made it best, and it has always been a test and who made it best. Who made it best it has always been a test. It has always been a test. Who made it best. Who made it best it has always been a test.
PETER.
Peter said Peter said eyes are always and eyes are always. Peter said Peter said, eyes are always and Peter said eyes are always. Peter said eyes are always.
Peter said eyes are always.
[…]
A SLATE.
A long time in which to decide that although it is a slate a slate used to mean a slate pencil.
PLACES.
If he came and was at once inclined inclined to have heard that how many places are there in it. How many places are there in it.
IN ENGLISH.
Longer legs than English. In English longer legs than English.
IN HALF.
Half the size of that. This does not refer to a half or a whole or a piece. Half the size of that refers only to the size.
NOT SURPRISING.
It is not at all surprising. Not at all surprising. If he gets it done at all. It is not at all surprising.
HANDS AND GRATEFUL.
Hands and grateful. This does enjoying this. Hands and grateful very grateful. Go upstairs go upstairs go. Hands and grateful.
SUSPICIONS.
He was suspicious of it and he had every reason to be suspicious of it.
AN AID TO MEMORY.
In aid of memory. Mentioned by itself alone. Butter or flattery. Mentioned by itself. In aid of memory mentioned by itself alone.
ALL.
He was the last and best of all not at all. He was the last of all he was the best of all he was the last and best of all not at all.
FANCY.
Fancy looking at it now and if it resembles he made half of it.
A TRAIT.
He met him. It was very difficult to remember who was here alone.
This decided us to consider it a trait.
READY.
When I was as ready to like it as ever I was ready to account for the difference between and the flowers.
Are you ready yet, not yet.
KNIVES.
Who painted knives first. Who painted knives first. Who said who painted knives first. Who said who painted knives first. And see the difference.
INSISTED.
I insisted upon it in summer as well as in winter. I insisted upon it I insisted upon it in summer I insisted as well as in winter. To remember in winter that it is winter and in summer that it is summer. I insisted upon it in summer as well as in winter not sentimentally with raspberries.
TO REMIND.
She reminded me that I was as ready as not and I said I will not say that I preferred service to opposition. I will not say what or what is not a pleasure.
SEVEN.
If she follows let her go, one two three four five six seven. She is let go if she follows. If she follows she is let go. If she follows let her go, she is let go is she follows.
A HAT.
It is as pleasant as that to have a hat, to have a hat and it is as pleasant as that. It Is as pleasant as that to have a hat. It is as pleasant as that. To have a hat. To have a hat it is as pleasant as that to have a hat. To have had a hat it is as pleasant as that to have a hat.
HOW TO REMEMBER.
A pretty dress and a pretty hat and how to come, leave out two and how to come. A pretty dress and a pretty hat leave out two. How to come and leave out two. A pretty hat and a pretty dress a pretty dress and a pretty hat ad leave out two. Leave out two and and how to come.
A WISH.
And always not when absently enough and heard and said. He had a wish.
FIFTY.
Fifty fifty and fifty-one, she said she thought so and she was told that that was about what it was. Not in place considered as places. Julia was used only as cake, Julia cake was used only as Julia. In some countries cake is called candy. The next is as much as that. When do they is not the same as why do they.
*
AS A WIFE HAS A COW A LOVE STORY
Nearly all of it to be as a wife has a cow, a love story. All of it to be as a wife had a cow, all of it to be as a wife has a cow, a love story.
As to be all of it as to be a wife as a wife has a cow, a love story, all of it as to be all of it as a wife all of it as to be as a wife has a cow a love story, all of it as a wife has a cow as a wife has a cow a love story.
Has made, as it has made as it has made, has made has to be as a wife has a cow, a love story. Has made as to be as a wife has a cow a love story. As a wife has a cow, as a wife has a cow, a love story. Has to be as a wife has a cow a love story. Has made as to be as a wife has a cow a love story.
When he can, and for that when he can, for that. When he can and for that when he can. For that. When he can. For that when he can. For that. And when he can and for that. Or that, and when he can. For that and when he can.
And to in six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to in six and and to and in and six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to and six and in and another and and to and six and another and and to and in and six and and to and six and in and another.
In came in there, came in there come out of there. In came in come out there. Come out there in came in there. Come out of there and in and come out of there. Came in there, come out of there.
Feeling or for it, as feeling or for it, came in or come in, or come out of there or feeling as felling or feeling as for it.
As a wife has a cow.
Came in and come out.
As a wife has a cow a love story.
As a love story, as a wife has a cow, a love story.
Not and now, now an not, not and now, by and by not and now, as not, as soon as not not and now, now as soon now now as soon, now as soon as soon as now. Just as soon just now just now just as soon just as soon as now. Just as soon as now.
And in that, as and in that, in that and and in that, so that, so that and in that, and in that and so that and as for that and as for that and that. In that. In that and and for that as for that and in that. Just as soon and in that. In that as that and just as soon. Just as soon as that.
Even now, now and even now and now and even now. Not as even now, therefor, even now and therefor, therefor and even now and even now and therefor even now. So not to and moreover and even now and therefor and moreover and even now and so and even now and therefor even now.
Do they as they do so. And do they do so.
We feel we feel. We feel or if we feel if we feel or if we feel. We feel or if we feel. As it is made made a day made a day or two made a day, as it is made a day or two, as it is made a day. Made a day. Made a day. Not away a day. By day. As it is made a day.
[…]
There is a key.
There is a key to a closet that opens the drawer. And she keeps both so that neither money nor candy will go suddenly, Fancy, baby, new year. She keeps both so that neither money nor candy will go suddenly, Fancy baby New Year, fancy baby mine, fancy.
HAPPY TO HAVE.
She does happen to have an aunt and in visiting and in taking a flower she shows that she is well supplied with sweet food at home otherwise she would have taken candies to her aunt as it would have been her sister. Her sister did.
RIGHT AWAY.
Active at a glance and said, said it again. Active at a glance and then to change gold right away. Active at a glance and not to change gold right away.
FISH.
Can fish be wives and wives and wives ad have as many as that. Can fish be wives and have as many as that.
PINK
Pink looks as pink, pink looks as pink, as pink as pink supposes, suppose.
[…]
BESIDE.
It can be known that he changed from Friday to Sunday. It can also be known that he changed from year to year. It can also be known that he was worried. It can also be known that his fellow-voyager would not only be attentive but would if necessary forget to come. Everybody would be grateful.
IN QUESTION.
How large a mouth has a good singer. He knows. How much better is one colour than another. He knows. How far away is a city from a city. He knows. How often is it delayed. He knows.
MUCH LATER.
Elephants and birds of beauty and a gold-fish. Gold fish or a superstition. They always bring bad luck. He had them and he was not told. Gold fish and he was not old. Gold fish and he was not to scold. Gold fish all told. The result was that the other people never had them and he knew nothing of it.
NEGLECTED AND NEGLECTFUL.
She needed it all very well and pressed her, she needed it all very well and as read, to read it better a letter and better, to read it and let her it all very well.
AND SOUP.
It has always been a test of who made it best, and it has always been a test and who made it best. Who made it best it has always been a test. It has always been a test. Who made it best. Who made it best it has always been a test.
PETER.
Peter said Peter said eyes are always and eyes are always. Peter said Peter said, eyes are always and Peter said eyes are always. Peter said eyes are always.
Peter said eyes are always.
[…]
A SLATE.
A long time in which to decide that although it is a slate a slate used to mean a slate pencil.
PLACES.
If he came and was at once inclined inclined to have heard that how many places are there in it. How many places are there in it.
IN ENGLISH.
Longer legs than English. In English longer legs than English.
IN HALF.
Half the size of that. This does not refer to a half or a whole or a piece. Half the size of that refers only to the size.
NOT SURPRISING.
It is not at all surprising. Not at all surprising. If he gets it done at all. It is not at all surprising.
HANDS AND GRATEFUL.
Hands and grateful. This does enjoying this. Hands and grateful very grateful. Go upstairs go upstairs go. Hands and grateful.
SUSPICIONS.
He was suspicious of it and he had every reason to be suspicious of it.
AN AID TO MEMORY.
In aid of memory. Mentioned by itself alone. Butter or flattery. Mentioned by itself. In aid of memory mentioned by itself alone.
ALL.
He was the last and best of all not at all. He was the last of all he was the best of all he was the last and best of all not at all.
FANCY.
Fancy looking at it now and if it resembles he made half of it.
A TRAIT.
He met him. It was very difficult to remember who was here alone.
This decided us to consider it a trait.
READY.
When I was as ready to like it as ever I was ready to account for the difference between and the flowers.
Are you ready yet, not yet.
KNIVES.
Who painted knives first. Who painted knives first. Who said who painted knives first. Who said who painted knives first. And see the difference.
INSISTED.
I insisted upon it in summer as well as in winter. I insisted upon it I insisted upon it in summer I insisted as well as in winter. To remember in winter that it is winter and in summer that it is summer. I insisted upon it in summer as well as in winter not sentimentally with raspberries.
TO REMIND.
She reminded me that I was as ready as not and I said I will not say that I preferred service to opposition. I will not say what or what is not a pleasure.
SEVEN.
If she follows let her go, one two three four five six seven. She is let go if she follows. If she follows she is let go. If she follows let her go, she is let go is she follows.
A HAT.
It is as pleasant as that to have a hat, to have a hat and it is as pleasant as that. It Is as pleasant as that to have a hat. It is as pleasant as that. To have a hat. To have a hat it is as pleasant as that to have a hat. To have had a hat it is as pleasant as that to have a hat.
HOW TO REMEMBER.
A pretty dress and a pretty hat and how to come, leave out two and how to come. A pretty dress and a pretty hat leave out two. How to come and leave out two. A pretty hat and a pretty dress a pretty dress and a pretty hat ad leave out two. Leave out two and and how to come.
A WISH.
And always not when absently enough and heard and said. He had a wish.
FIFTY.
Fifty fifty and fifty-one, she said she thought so and she was told that that was about what it was. Not in place considered as places. Julia was used only as cake, Julia cake was used only as Julia. In some countries cake is called candy. The next is as much as that. When do they is not the same as why do they.
*
AS A WIFE HAS A COW A LOVE STORY
Nearly all of it to be as a wife has a cow, a love story. All of it to be as a wife had a cow, all of it to be as a wife has a cow, a love story.
As to be all of it as to be a wife as a wife has a cow, a love story, all of it as to be all of it as a wife all of it as to be as a wife has a cow a love story, all of it as a wife has a cow as a wife has a cow a love story.
Has made, as it has made as it has made, has made has to be as a wife has a cow, a love story. Has made as to be as a wife has a cow a love story. As a wife has a cow, as a wife has a cow, a love story. Has to be as a wife has a cow a love story. Has made as to be as a wife has a cow a love story.
When he can, and for that when he can, for that. When he can and for that when he can. For that. When he can. For that when he can. For that. And when he can and for that. Or that, and when he can. For that and when he can.
And to in six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to in six and and to and in and six and another. And to and in and six and another. And to and six and in and another and and to and six and another and and to and in and six and and to and six and in and another.
In came in there, came in there come out of there. In came in come out there. Come out there in came in there. Come out of there and in and come out of there. Came in there, come out of there.
Feeling or for it, as feeling or for it, came in or come in, or come out of there or feeling as felling or feeling as for it.
As a wife has a cow.
Came in and come out.
As a wife has a cow a love story.
As a love story, as a wife has a cow, a love story.
Not and now, now an not, not and now, by and by not and now, as not, as soon as not not and now, now as soon now now as soon, now as soon as soon as now. Just as soon just now just now just as soon just as soon as now. Just as soon as now.
And in that, as and in that, in that and and in that, so that, so that and in that, and in that and so that and as for that and as for that and that. In that. In that and and for that as for that and in that. Just as soon and in that. In that as that and just as soon. Just as soon as that.
Even now, now and even now and now and even now. Not as even now, therefor, even now and therefor, therefor and even now and even now and therefor even now. So not to and moreover and even now and therefor and moreover and even now and so and even now and therefor even now.
Do they as they do so. And do they do so.
We feel we feel. We feel or if we feel if we feel or if we feel. We feel or if we feel. As it is made made a day made a day or two made a day, as it is made a day or two, as it is made a day. Made a day. Made a day. Not away a day. By day. As it is made a day.
[…]
September 29, 2012
Just as in "Tender Buttons," Gertrude Stein once again creates a flowing-yet-jagged rendition of an idea in the English language. I have absolutely no idea what she's saying this time. Whereas last time I believe she was creating little identities for words she believed to have lost their meanings, this time I was completely lost.
I appreciate her vision, but I believe I need a bit more time and analysis to fully appreciate it.
I appreciate her vision, but I believe I need a bit more time and analysis to fully appreciate it.
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