~ CUT-UPS SELF-EXPLAINED ~
by Brion Gysin

     Writing is fifty years behind painting. I propose to apply 
the painters' techniques to writing; things as simple and 
immediate as collage or montage. Cut right through the pages 
of any book or newsprint... lengthwise, for example, and shuffle 
the columns of text. Put them together at hazard and read the 
newly constituted message. Do it for yourself. Use any system 
which suggests itself to you. Take your own words or the words 
said to be "the very own words" of anyone else living or dead. 
You'll soon see that words don't belong to anyone. Words have 
a vitality of their own and you or anybody can make them gush 
into action.

     The permutated poems set the words spinning off on their 
own; echoing out as the words of a potent phrase are permutat-
ed into an expanding ripple of meanings which they did not seem 
to be capable of when they were struck and then stuck into that 
phrase.

     The poets are supposed to liberate the words - not to chain 
them in phrases. Who told poets they were supposed to think? 
Poets are meant to sing and to make words sing. Poets have 
no words "of their very own." Writers don't own their words. 
Since when do words belong to anybody. "Your very own words," 
indeed! And who are you?


CUT THE TEXT INTO THREE COLUMNS:

             A:                                       B:                                  C:                                        

     Writing is fifty y        ears behind painting.        I propose to apply
the painters' techniq       ues to writing; thingX       as simple and
immediate as collage       or montage. Cut righX       through the pages
of any book or newspr    int... lengthwise, foX          example, and shuffle
the columns of text.         Put them together at        hazard and read the
newly constituted mes     sage. Do it for yourX         elf. Use any system
which suggests itself       to you. Take your oX         n words or the words
said to be "the very         own words: of anyone X    lse living or dead.
You'll soon see that         words don't belong to        anyone. Words have
a vitality of their o          wn and you or anbody      can make them gush
into action.

     The permutated po     ems set the words spiX     ning off on their 
own; echoing out as X      he words of a potent X      hrase are permutat-
ed into an expanding       ripple of meanings whX    ch they did not seem 
to be capable of wheX     they were struck and        then stuck into that 
phrase.

     The poets are suX       posed to liberate the         words - not to chain 
them in phrases. WhX     told poets they were          supposed to think? 
Poets are meant to sX      ng and to make words X    ing. Poets have 
no words "of their X        ery own." Writers doX       't own their words. 
Since when do words X   elong to anybody. "Yo         ur very own words," 
indeed! And who arX      you?

(The letters struck out were those sliced by my scissors. Now, permutate the 
columns to form the message.)

Now I shall read across in the normal way
the text ACB, and it says:


                               Text ACB:

Writing is fifty. I propose to apply ears behing pain-
ting. The painters' techniques as simple and use to wri-
ting; things immediate as collage through the pages or
montage. Cut right of any book or newspr example, and
shuffle into ... lengthwise, for the columns of text. Ha-
zard and read them. Put them together are newly consti-
tuted meself. Use any system sage. Do it for yours which
suggests itself, own words or the words to you. Take
your own, said to be ,,the very else living or dead own
words of anyone. " You'll soon see that anyone. Words
have words don't belong to a vitality of their o can make
them gush on and you or anybody into action.

The permutated punning off on their ems set the
words spin own; echoing out as phrase are permutate he
words of a potent ped into an expanding which they did
not seem; ripple of meanings which to be capable of
when then stuck into that they were struck and phrase.

The poets are suwords - not to chain posed to liberate
the them in phrases. Who supposed to think? Told poets
they were Poets are meant to sing. Poets have ng and to 
make words snow words ,,of their wit own their words
very own. "Writers don. Since when do words ,,ur very
own words, " belong to anybody. ,,Yo indeed! And who
are you?


                              Text BAC:
                         Writing is fifty y
ears behind painting. the painters' techniq I propose to
apply ues to writing; things immediate as collages as
simple and or montage. Cut right of any book or news-
prt through the pages int ... lengthwise, for the columns
of text. example, and shuffle Put them together at newly
constituted meshazard and read the sage. Do it for yours
which suggests itself elf. Use any system to you. Take
your o said to be ,,the very n words or the words own
words" of anyone You'll soon see that else living or
dead. words don't belong to vitality of their o anyone.
Words have wn and you or anybody into action. can
make them gush

                        The permutated po
ems set the words spin own; echoing out as thing off on 
their he words of a potent ped into an expanding phrase
are permutatripple of meanings whito be capable of
whench they did not weem they were struck and phrase.
then stuck into that

                          The poets are sup
posed to liberate the them in phrases. Who words - not
to chain o told poets they were Poets are meant to si
supposed to think? ng and to make words snow words
of their ving. Poets have ery own." Writers don Since 
when to words ('t) own their words. belong to anybody.
Yo indeed! And who are ur very own words, "you?

                              
                             Text A + CB:
Writing is fifty the painters' technique, immediate as
collage of any book or newspr the columns of text. New
ly constituted mess which suggests itself said to be the
very. You'll soon see that a vitality of their into action.

The permutaed poem, echoing out as ted into an ex-
panding to be capable of when phrase.

The poets are sue them in phrases. Poets are meant to
sigh now words of their. Since when do words indeed!
And who are I propose to apply ears behind painting., as
simple as use to writing; things through the pages or
montage. Cut right example and shuffle into lengthwise
for hazard and read the put them together ourself. Use
any system sage. Do it for your words or the words to
you. Take your own else living or dead; own words of
anyone, anyone. Words have words don't belong to one
and you or anybody can make them gush.

Set the words spin phrase are permutate. The words
of a potent they did not seem, ripple of meanings then
stuck into that they were struck. And words not to
chain. Posed to liberate the supposed to think? Told
poets they were Poets to make words own their words.
Very own. Writer's ,, very own words" belong to any-
body. You and you.


                                Text B + CA:
Ears behind painting; use to writing; things or mon-
tage. Cut right into ... lengthwise. Put them together are
sage. Do it for yours to you. Take your own words of
anyone. Words don't belong to own and you or anybody
aims to set the words spin. The words of a potent ripple
of meanings whin they were struck and posed to libe-
rate.

The O told poets they were NG and to make words
,,very own." Writers don't belong to anybody. You,
you?
Writing is fifty. I propose to apply the painter's tech-
niques as simple and immediate as ,,collage" through the
pages of any book or newspr example, and shuffle the 
columns of text. Hazard and read the newly constituted
mesself. Use any system which suggest itself in words or
the words said to be ,,the very else living or dead. You'll
soon see that anyone. Words have a vitality of their o
can make them gush into action.

The permutated poems running off on their own;
echoing out as the phrases are permutated into an expan-
ding which they did not seem capable of when then
stuck into that phrase.

The poets are sup words - not to chain them in phra-
ses. Who supposed to think? Poets are meant to si ing.
Poets have now words of their own words. Since when
do words your very own words, indeed! And who are
you?