Read Online How It Is by Samuel Beckett - Free Book Online

straight ahead four yards
     dear figures then left right angle and beeline four yards then right right angle so
     on till Pim
    thus north and south of the abandoned arrow effect of hope series of sawteeth or chevrons
     sides two yards base three a little less this the base we’re talking of the base in
     the old line of march which I thus revisit an instant between two vertices one yard
     and a half a little less dear figures golden age so it ends part one before Pim my
     travelling days vast stretch of time I was young all that all those words chevrons
     golden vertices every word always as I hear it in me that was without quaqua on all
     sides and murmur to the mud when the panting stops barely audible bits and scraps
    semi-side left right leg right arm push pull flat on face curse God bless him beseech
     him no sound with feet and hands scrabble in the mud what do I hope a tin lost where
     I have never been a tin half-emptied thrown away ahead that’s all I hope
    where I have never been but others perhaps long before not long before it’s one or
     the other or it’s both a procession what comfort in adversity others what comfort
    those dragging on in front those dragging on behind whose lot has been whose lot will
     be what your lot is endless cortège of sacks burst in the interests of all
    or a celestial tin miraculous sardines sent down by God at the news of my mishap wherewith
     to spew him out another week
    semi-side right left leg left arm push pull flat on the face mute imprecations scrabble
     in the mud every half-yard eight times per chevron or three yards of headway clear
     a little less the hand dips clawing for the take instead of the familiar slime an
     arse two cries one mute end of part one before Pim that’s how it was before Pim

PART 2
     

    here then at last part two where I have still to say how it was as I hear it in me
     that was without quaqua on all sides bits and scraps how it was with Pim vast stretch
     of time murmur it in the mud to the mud when the panting stops how it was my life
     we’re talking of my life in the dark the mud with Pim part two leaving only part three
     and last that’s where I have my life where I had it where I’ll have it vast tracts
     of time part three and last in the dark the mud my life murmur it bits and scraps
    happy time in its way part two we’re talking of part two with Pim how it was good
     moments good for me we’re talking of me for him too we’re talking of him too happy
     too in his way I’ll know it later his way of happiness I’ll have it later I have not
     yet had all
    faint shrill cry then foretaste of this semi-castrate mutter I must bear how long
     no more figures there’s another little difference compared to what precedes not the
     slightest figure henceforth all measures vague yes vague impressions of length length
     of space length of time vague impressions of brevity between the two and hence no
     more reckoning save possibly algebraical yes I hear yes then no
    smartly as from a block of ice or white-hot my hand recoils hangs a moment it’s vague
     in mid air then slowly sinks again and settles firm and even with a touch of ownership
     already on the miraculous flesh perpendicular to the crack the stump of the thumb
     and thenar and hypo balls on the left cheek the four fingers on the other the right
     hand therefore we are not yet head to foot
    flat assuredly but slightly arched none the less modesty perhaps the innate kind it
     can’t have been acquired and so a little hog-backed straddling the slit whence contact with the right cheek less pads than nails second
     cry of fright assuredly but in which I seemed to catch orchestra-drowned a faint flageolet
     of pleasure already fatuity on my part it’s possible
    there’s a past perhaps this part will work in the past part two with Pim how it was
     another little difference perhaps compared to what precedes but quick my nails a word
     on them they will have their part to play
    to be