On Tales

(This letter is extracted from the Correspondence Marc Bernard & Jean Paulhan, 1928-1968), published by Claire Paulhan editions.

My little Marc,

Naturally, I would like that each tale leaves a small shock (like the zen masters stretch you at the good moment a kick in the legs).

When one sees things for the first time, it is admitted that one sees them better (this "better" means, I fear, more imaged, more surprising — more literary). Well, it is first a very agreeable feeling (especially if one is litterateur).

Then, does it not come (from this feeling itself) a sort of anxiety or fatigue: "But finally, what I see, it is not the building, nor the leaves, nor the tower (since it will not be there tomorrow), what I see, it is, if one can say, the first time itself."

Finally, you see in what sense...

I embrace you both,

(1950)