Jacques Roubaud, p.3

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WHAT THE POEM SAID

for l.d.

I forgot what the poem said

I knew what the poem said but I forgot what it was

The poem said that, but I forgot that that that the poem said

That the poem said that, is that what the poem said? If it’s that that the poem said, I forgot what it was

Maybe, without knowing what the poem said, while I was reciting the poem (when I was reciting the poem), I had already forgotten what it was

but if that’s what the poem said, I forgot what it was

Now, when I recite the poem, I don’t know if I’m reciting this poem, since I’ve forgotten what the poem was saying

That’s why what this poem says is not really what the poem was saying

and why I forgot what it was

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