Stanzas in Meditation

 by Gertrude Stein

Part I

Stanza XIII

She may count three little daisies very well

By multiplying to either six nine or fourteen

Or she can be well mentioned as twelve

Which they may like which they can like soon

Or more than ever which they wish as a button

Just as much as they arrange which they wish

Or they can attire where they need as which say

Can they call a hat or a hat a day

Made merry because it is so.

Part III

Stanza II

I think very well of Susan but I do not know her name

I think very well of Ellen but which is not the same

I think very well of Paul I tell him not to do so

I think very well of Francis Charles but do I do so

I think very well of Thomas but I do not not do so

I think very well of not very well of William

I think very well of any very well of him

I think very well of him.

It is remarkable how quickly they learn

But if they learn and it is very remarkable how quickly they learn

It makes not only but by and by

And they can not only be not here

But not there

Which after all makes no difference

After all this does not make any does not make any difference

I add added it to it.

I could rather be rather be here.

Stanza V

It is not a range of a mountain

Of average of a range of a average mountain

Nor can they of which of which of arrange

To have been not which they which

Can add a mountain to this.

Upper an add it then maintain

That if they were busy so to speak

Add it to and

It not only why they could not add ask

Or when just when more each other

There is no each other as they like

They add why then emerge an add in

It is of absolutely no importance how often they add it.

Part V

Stanza XXXVIII

Which I wish to say is this

There is no beginning to an end

But there is a beginning and an end

To beginning.

Why yes of course.

Any one can learn that north of course

Is not only north but north as north

Why were they worried.

What I wish to say is this.

Yes of course

Stanza LXIII

I wish that I had spoken only of it all.