September 4th 1930.

Charles, My Dear:

I have been back from Ossining for a long while. No I wasn't there with Hans Arp. I quite forget who I was there with, as if it really mattered. Anyway I returned to New York in July and rented and large studio and bath on Morton Street in the village. but saw none of the villagers. such as Tyler etc. I can't bear with them. so never called them. and avoided the Tavern and such places. I'm all for homo-sexuality in theory. but I can't always bear with the people who practice it.

A good many things have happened for the best. HOUND AND HORN have accepted a story for mine for the December issue. and I have read the proof for the two poems to be in September. and I have a chance to publish a book of short stories when I finish enough of them for book form. Also my book is about ready, or so Lew Ney told me.

Well I stood New York until my nerves went ticker tape. and here I am now living in Harrisburg, Pa. for a month. resting. and waiting for my book to come out. and also have another book of poems at a promising publisher.

Please tell me whether you are using either of the poems I sent you. If you don't want them, they is no reason to print them. They are far from sketchy as you implied about one of them. And I shall keep them for another place if they arent for BLUES. when will the issue be out? Send me one for sure.

I don't know very much. I'm tired and excited about many things. I'm going to Panama and Porto Rico for the winter. then maybe to Mexico. And surely Europe next spring or summer. I must start writing again on the short stories. I have written three so far. two of which are good. HOUND AND HORN was simply mad about the one I sent them. and I sent the other to PAGANY and they returned it saying they had too much material. I didn't want them to have it anyway.

Write whatever is on your mind. I'll probably be back in New York in October. but letters sent here will be forwarded.

Love,

Dear Charles,

thanx for your letter and i
had intended answering long ago but many many
things have happened was in the hospital here
in january and very ill from drinking absinth
had company too for many weeks

now i am writing and working and planning to
get away from here before long yes i may go to
europe in may or june or i may go back to NY
tell me when you are going to france or wherever
maybe we could go about the same time but i
will go from here if i go, and i will go if i
can arrange the money side of it

here are some pictures obviously

glad you liked THE SAD END think O'Brien
must be using it for he asked me for a biographical
sketch for his book of best stories of the year and sent
it c/o Hound and Horn

had a letter from Bob Brown and he is in Cagnes
also Key Boyle Antheil, Gillespie, many others . . about forty in
all he said and Morada is being published from there

have you seen Nativity and Front Isaw the former Not
much good however sorry that i let them have one of my best poems
i do not know about a story for blues as long as i can get money for
st ories i shall poetry is what i must publish therefore i give it
away you should see the letters about TEN POEMS: Valery Larbaud,
Herbert Read, Marianne Moore, Conrad Aiken, and Peter Quenell, all saying
good things so after all you and tyler must have been wrong i am so sur
-e that i am NOT however it doesn't matter the book is good and is
even selling here and there

i hear from erskine Caldwell now and then also Jay Leyda i
live for letters here days are days with blue blue water and skies and
rain at night and the rapidly approaching rainy season i have orchids
a collection of ten plants of them and one is budding days slip off into
nothing

would be glad if you would send the magazines and books in Spanish
will you right away give me something to do something to think about
I like Spanish but next to French and German . . my french is improving
i often translate french poetry into english but spanish poetry is too
silly most of it

write soon and i will write again i like getting letters

two

contributors for this magazine. I will send you a list of people to send announcements to. I am so busy now. Just moved and have been working as modeling and am tired and trying to attend lectures and study, too. For gods sake and the publics don't have Trent and Cheyney unless you can help it. They are the iron horse parnassuses of poetry.

I liked all the Ps's and almost missed the poem. . . but found it tonight and liked it very much. . . It is too good far POETRY. . . damn that old lady's poetry soul. . . Did I tell you that Forge accepted three poems of mine. . .

As for Hartseck I never could see anything to his poetry at all. . . and they are evidently certain qualities. . . they to me are silly. . . and I can't judge them. . . just use your own judgement on this poem. . . Charles it isn't fair for me to say. . . I will report to you in detailed reason about anyone else's work but his. . . but all I can say for him is that he is a beautiful boy. . . god how much he looks like a poet. . . I would actually picked him for one in a subway jam. . . the poem has certain qualities. . . but to be critical I could point out many things. . . It is no worse than many of my own. . .

I will type some things of mine and send them along next week. . . My time is filled so. . . and when I get through with everything I am so tired. . . I hope that next week things may ease up a bit and I have a breathing space in which to write letters and type poems and do many things. . .

In the meanwhile I will make out an announcement and find out the Dial price of ads for a small space of course, and get some material from different of the better poets. . . and also make a list of people and a list of magazines. . . You may depend on me for any support I can give. . . and you are under no obligation to take my suggestions. . . It will certainly be to the advantage of the magazine to have an associate in N.Y. . .

Until again soon, best luck,

Dear Charles:

I am sending you two poems for BLUES, second issue. I hope
you will have the good taste to like them.

I have just finished putting the touches on two book manuscripts of poems.
Now for a publisher! I thought I would send these poems, because you will prob-
ably want to make up the second issue before I get settled enough to send any-
thing else. Be sure to send copies to the following: New York Public Library,
Fifth Avenue Branch; Literary Digest Poetry Page; The poetry column of the New
York World(Pulitzer Building, N.Y.); the Phoenician of Saturday Review of Liter-
ature; the Times Book Page; the Southwest Review; the Forge; the Yale Review
(New Haven, Conn.) the Salient(the New School of Social Research, 465 W. 23d St.
New York City) the Dallas News Book-Page; that must be all, unless you wish to
send a copy to them man on the Express in San Antonio.I think from these reviews
a few new subscriptions will come in.

Let me know if you don't like these poems. Return them to me at San Antonio.
But you should like them. They are as good as I have ever done.

Love,

Charles will you kindly mail this from Columbus: It
was terrible stuff sent to me by a man who may remember
as living here. I can't be bored by him and do not want
to enter into discussion so mailing this there will
simplify things a great deal. God why can't someone send
something good in? I am writing to Gould to get Gregory's
address.

Love
Kathleen.

BEFORE DIVISION OF THE SUNS
TAKE SHEARS TO CUT A SECOND'S THREAD
THE MIND MUST TICK ECSTATIC ONCE
TO PROVE THAT IT IS DEAD.

Charles, My Dear— I've only been able to read your last two
letters to night. I've been desperately ill. . . Still am. . .
Have had a horse with me night and day. . . a still dark night
and a blue light burning somewhere and an overdose of morphine. .
then very cold. . . and very tired. . . and soft laughter like
sleep that ate away the sickly mind. . . the rest struggling weakness
and ache of bones. . . and ache of thoughts. . . Now a clear light
burning that must thrust forth brilliant things best I die of
them. . .

This note a weary long thing of aching fingers and
tired eyes. . . Here is a poem I happen to have nearby. . . just
was rejected that the DIAL. . . Four poems were just accepted
by OPPORTUNITY. . . splendid poems of mine, too. . .

I must stop. . . I'm exhausted. . . surely Will be able to
write more soon. . . I do love you Darling. . . And I DO think
BLUES is wonderful. . . We'll make it more. . . Soon as I was able
to see I ask for BOOKS and saw the write-up. . . It wasn't bad. . .

Love, Charles, Dear,

Dearest Charles:

Your last letter is the most lucid one I have received in a long long time. . you didn't seem to be buzzing like a bee about something. . but very calm. .

I went to the library last night and found a book I have been wanting to read for a long time, and one that I insist upon your reading. . It is TIME AND THE WESTERN MAN by Wyndham Lewis. . You'll find many things in it that have direct bearing on modernism. . I read this last night until I feel to sleep. . Also am reading Anderson's TAR A MIDWEST CHILDHOOD. . and Lawrence's PLUMED SERPENT. . and all the while writing a book in my own head. . when will I be able to bring this book out to life. . sometimes all effort seems so furtbid. . so charged with futility. . it mocks me and I sleep. . my mind goes on talking these things. . to be freed from them I must write them. . I must perfect them. .

Yes maybe I do condemn CV and the other mags. . I mean of course one shouldn't take them seriously. . however considering the way things are in this age and this nation, who can a poet do but print wherever he can print, as long as it doesn't inply some loss of an ideal. . if he can publish in the small magazines, let him do so. . Here's a copy of JAPM you may have s seen. . The poem of mine is not free verse, but he didn't realize it. . but I think its a good poem. . at least it ranks up with the well known poets who are publishing books every year. . I don't submit to POETRY any more. . I seem to have no chance there. . and they are very high hat. . and then continue publishing the worst poetry. . they have used good stuff in the past. . I have seen POETRY simply curl up and die the past year. . Even Ben's mags are not nearly so rotten. . I liked OFFERING. . its too good for that magazine. .

They do tell Herrmann to look me up. . that is if he is coming thru here when I'll be here. . I don't know where I'll be. .

Thank goodness you told me that GYROSCOPE is that kind of thing. . I had written a letter and planned on sending Winters some very good stuff. I may submit but it will be of a different kind of work. . any mimeographed phamplet cant be called a magazine. . I'm anxious to see one however. . Yes I think the idea of bringing BLUES out in larger form quarterly will be splendid. . I'd have it bound something like a French book in paper. . and it will certainly be worth 75¢. . I like the idea. . it will make a bigger impression coming at such intervals. . and can contain more work.

I saw that crazy Nigli girl the other day. . Do you remember our talking of her. . she had a poem in ECHO. . thru my efforts. . She is going to Oxford for an MA. . she says she has published a book of her poems. . she's young and may be a genius who knows. . however I'm not the one to remodel her youthful mind. . I hope that I don't have to see too much of her. . I've been hungry to talk to anyone to know a nything. . she's going to New York soon. . if she isn't chaperoned to death it ought to bring out things in her. . however her mother will try to make a Ladies Home Journal writer of her. . another Fannie Hurst. . or Edna Ferber. . OH for a few more Elimor Wylies and Sherwood Andersons and Hemingways. .

Its running here. . a long silver rain. . this is the weather I like best. . the dark silver afternoons and the heavy winds of black starless nights. . I'd like to live someday where there's a long rainy

OVER

season and great jungle trees and flowers that drown in the rain pools .
perhaps I will . . when Lilly goes to the Philippines Im marrying him and
going along . . My work should go well over there . . People are lazy and
detached from civilization . . my mind works best in such places . . that
is I may create something if I don't drink myself to death . . which is
likely...

I've been at a stand still with my work . . but this cant last . . even
now Im beginning to feel like wanting to write again . . My life is so
filled with turmoil . . I scarcely know where to turn . . on one hand
love . . a spiritual bond that holds me fast . . the other hand a desire
to get away from everything: to bury myself in loneliness . . to go mad
perhaps, but to be incensed in words . . to walk through the fire of
flaming words . . shaping liquid silver for an unknown hand . . The first
means rest that is a sort of nightmare sleep and dream of death twinged
with spasmodic life: the last means loneliness and fever and madness and
never rest: OH TO BE CONSUMED . .

What has become of Eddie? Does he still suffer his sufferings
with loud joy? Doesn't he too seek to be consumed . . . To exist one moment
before a mirror of reality: to see standing there the outline of self,
the whole: to see it go bang and a thin smoke drift away . . to EXIST . .
to be consumed . .

Dearest Charles:

I was rewarded last night when I went to the post office for
I found four letters . . one from you, one from Ruth, one from Tony
G., and one from some one I do not know . . more about him later . .
The letters all contained news, and now at last I begin to be happy
leaving for New York the 12th, which is less than two weeks . .

I've been pretty ill . . am taking the typhoid shots, and had to
be vaccinated . . and then we've had about four parties last week
with lots of drink and such late hours . . there are two people rather
nice . . one is a man who went to Harvard during the war and who
recites Cummings's work very well . . and other not so interesting
but he usually gets what a poem's about, and can translate Mexican
poetry well . .

Yes, I will try Janus but I can't make the first issue because
today is the last day of September . . rather be on another anyway.
I am anxious to see some write-ups about the Caravan . . saw the one
in BOOKMAN . . has it been in BOOKS yet . . I missed one issue.

Don't let Utility get you . . it is there . . here . . everywhere.
That's why I don't write much . . don't care . . any sort of life that will
act as a bribe will take the sharpness from this bitter living death
we call utility . . The part of life that is narcotic . . dancing, jazz,
certain works of art . . these help to save us from the bitter realization
of the nothingness void in which we are hopelessly imprisoned . . We
must forget it . . or we go mad . .

colleges are full of homes.

No I wouldn't use William's piece in the magazine if I was going to
use it on the book. . Yes I think Blues will be good . . If you want me
to I can submit it in NY . . it can surely get more places and save
postage and if I ever get an interview on it I think I can get them to
take it . . I'm anxious to take it to Covici-Friede's . . Do you want
me to . . NO, I haven't had any copies bound yet, because I had rather do
it in NY and get a better job . . there's only one place here and from
the looks of the library binds I don't want any.

Tell Bushby that you can't get an bigraphical data from me which
is true . . he can use what is in Caravan if he likes.

Wait until you get to NY and study everywhere . . that is take
the lectures in that you really want . . Columbia is pretty good too.

Well I just wanted to know if you were going to meet me in NO.
I am going via Galveston then because the food is better on those boats.
and there's one saying the 12th from Galv.

I'll do all I can to introduce BLUES further in NY if you'll
send me some copies . . I'll try to place it on all the small but
good stands in the Village where they keep Cummings and the others
who do not submit to the trashy mags . .

I must go now . . I've promise myself to write and work today.
Tomorrow I have to take another typhoid injection and they put me to bed.

Love, and do write often . .

Dear Charles:

In spite of having looked for a letter yesterday and not getting it, I'm writing again. Will you please send me the following addresses: Horace Gregory; John Herrmann; Louis Zukofsky; Matthew Josephson.

I guess the last issue is not ready yet because Brantano(s
do not have it. . listen, they have BLUES where it belongs, in with
the mags like THIS QUARTER, TRANSITION etc . . They were very nice to
answer inquiries.

Can you tell me what issues of Mecure de France mentioned
BLUES? Don't fail to answer this letter.

Please send some copies right away . . what is holding you up . . you should have it off the press by now . . you said the 10th, didn't you?

Here are some poems a girl sent me from Calif. . What do
you think of them? I think one of the group is pretty good. She at
least shows a lot of promise . . I turn her over to you, but shall
probably write her a letter, since she writes to me occasionally.

A first check came from CARAVAN yesterday and a copy
of the book which is being forwarded to me . . I look forward with
a good deal of delight to reading it . . I'm seen it in different
bookstores and read parts of it there, but there are some very
fine things in it that I want to spend time on.

Write something,