I love how the title page of Exercises for Ear (The Ferry Press, 1968) characterizes its author as “Stephen Jonas / Gentleman”. And it is the touch of the gentle man that concludes the book with a wry aside to Jack [Spicer?].
CLXXIX
(Jack):
strange abt women
when they discover you
on to their secret; they never
trust you
again alone
w/ their husbands
The full title (Exercises for Ear being a Primer for the Beginner in the American Idiom) explains some of the abbreviations deployed and the ellipsis of “are”. Also explains the use of the expression “on to someone” — be on to someone: be close to discovering the truth about an illegal or undesirable activity that someone is engaging in. We never quite know the secret but we do get a vivid picture of the reaction to coming close.
And so for day 2252
11.02.2013