Roastbeef

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) · 1914

153 lines · from Tender Buttons

In the inside there is sleeping, in the outside there is reddening, inthe morning there is meaning, in the evening there is feeling. In theevening there is feeling. In feeling anything is resting, in feelinganything is mounting, in feeling there is resignation, in feeling thereis recognition, in feeling there is recurrence and entirely mistakenthere is pinching. All the standards have steamers and all the curtainshave bed linen and all the yellow has discrimination and all the circlehas circling. This makes sand.

Very well. Certainly the length is thinner and the rest, the round resthas a longer summer. To shine, why not shine, to shine, to station, toenlarge, to hurry the measure all this means nothing if there issinging, if there is singing then there is the resumption.

The change the dirt, not to change dirt means that there is no beefsteakand not to have that is no obstruction, it is so easy to exchangemeaning, it is so easy to see the difference. The difference is that aplain resource is not entangled with thickness and it does not mean thatthickness shows such cutting, it does mean that a meadow is useful and acow absurd. It does not mean that there are tears, it does not mean thatexudation is cumbersome, it means no more than a memory, a choice and areëstablishment, it means more than any escape from a surrounding extra.All the time that there is use there is use and any time there is asurface there is a surface, and every time there is an exception thereis an exception and every time there is a division there is a dividing.Any time there is a surface there is a surface and every time there is asuggestion there is a suggestion and every time there is silence thereis silence and every time that is languid there is that there then andnot oftener, not always, not particular, tender and changing andexternal and central and surrounded and singular and simple and the sameand the surface and the circle and the shine and the succor and thewhite and the same and the better and the red and the same and thecentre and the yellow and the tender and the better, and altogether.

Considering the circumstances there is no occasion for a reduction,considering that there is no pealing there is no occasion for anobligation, considering that there is no outrage there is no necessityfor any reparation, considering that there is no particle sodden thereis no occasion for deliberation. Considering everything and which waythe turn is tending, considering everything why is there no restraint,considering everything what makes the place settle and the platedistinguish some specialties. The whole thing is not understood and thisis not strange considering that there is no education, this is notstrange because having that certainly does show the difference incutting, it shows that when there is turning there is no distress.

In kind, in a control, in a period, in the alteration of pigeons, inkind cuts and thick and thin spaces, in kind ham and different colors,the length of leaning a strong thing outside not to make a sound but tosuggest a crust, the principal taste is when there is a whole chance tobe reasonable, this does not mean that there is overtaking, this meansnothing precious, this means clearly that the chance to exercise is asocial success. So then the sound is not obtrusive. Suppose it isobtrusive suppose it is. What is certainly the desertion is not areduced description, a description is not a birthday.

Lovely snipe and tender turn, excellent vapor and slender butter, allthe splinter and the trunk, all the poisonous darkning drunk, all thejoy in weak success, all the joyful tenderness, all the section and thetea, all the stouter symmetry.

Around the size that is small, inside the stern that is the middle,besides the remains that are praying, inside the between that isturning, all the region is measuring and melting is exaggerating.

Rectangular ribbon does not mean that there is no eruption it means thatif there is no place to hold there is no place to spread. Kindness isnot earnest, it is not assiduous it is not revered.

Room to comb chickens and feathers and ripe purple, room to curve singleplates and large sets and second silver, room to send everything away,room to save heat and distemper, room to search a light that is simpler,all room has no shadow.

There is no use there is no use at all in smell, in taste, in teeth, intoast, in anything, there is no use at all and the respect is mutual.

Why should that which is uneven, that which is resumed, that which istolerable why should all this resemble a smell, a thing is there, itwhistles, it is not narrower, why is there no obligation to stay awayand yet courage, courage is everywhere and the best remains to stay.

If there could be that which is contained in that which is felt therewould be a chair where there are chairs and there would be no moredenial about a clatter. A clatter is not a smell. All this is good.

The Saturday evening which is Sunday is every week day. What choice isthere when there is a difference. A regulation is not active.Thirstiness is not equal division.

Anyway, to be older and ageder is not a surfeit nor a suction, it is notdated and careful, it is not dirty. Any little thing is clean, rubbingis black. Why should ancient lambs be goats and young colts and neverbeef, why should they, they should because there is so much differencein age.

A sound, a whole sound is not separation, a whole sound is in an order.

Suppose there is a pigeon, suppose there is.

Looseness, why is there a shadow in a kitchen, there is a shadow in akitchen because every little thing is bigger.

The time when there are four choices and there are four choices in adifference, the time when there are four choices there is a kind andthere is a kind. There is a kind. There is a kind. Supposing there is abone, there is a bone. Supposing there are bones. There are bones. Whenthere are bones there is no supposing there are bones. There are bonesand there is that consuming. The kindly way to feel separating is tohave a space between. This shows a likeness.

Hope in gates, hope in spoons, hope in doors, hope in tables, no hope indaintiness and determination. Hope in dates.

Tin is not a can and a stove is hardly. Tin is not necessary and neitheris a stretcher. Tin is never narrow and thick.

Color is in coal. Coal is outlasting roasting and a spoonful, a wholespoon that is full is not spilling. Coal any coal is copper.

Claiming nothing, not claiming anything, not a claim in everything,collecting claiming, all this makes a harmony, it even makes asuccession.

Sincerely gracious one morning, sincerely graciously trembling, sincerein gracious eloping, all this makes a furnace and a blanket. All thisshows quantity.

Like an eye, not so much more, not any searching, no compliments.

Please be the beef, please beef, pleasure is not wailing. Please beef,please be carved clear, please be a case of consideration.

Search a neglect. A sale, any greatness is a stall and there is nomemory, there is no clear collection.

A satin sight, what is a trick, no trick is mountainous and the color,all the rush is in the blood.

Bargaining for a little, bargain for a touch, a liberty, anestrangement, a characteristic turkey.

Please spice, please no name, place a whole weight, sink into a standardrising, raise a circle, choose a right around, make the resonanceaccounted and gather green any collar.

To bury a slender chicken, to raise an old feather, to surround agarland and to bake a pole splinter, to suggest a repose and to settlesimply, to surrender one another, to succeed saving simpler, to satisfya singularity and not to be blinder, to sugar nothing darker and to readredder, to have the color better, to sort out dinner, to remaintogether, to surprise no sinner, to curve nothing sweeter, to continuethinner, to increase in resting recreation to design string not dimmer.

Cloudiness what is cloudiness, is it a lining, is it a roll, is itmelting.

The sooner there is jerking, the sooner freshness is tender, the soonerthe round it is not round the sooner it is withdrawn in cutting, thesooner the measure means service, the sooner there is chinking, thesooner there is sadder than salad, the sooner there is none do her, thesooner there is no choice, the sooner there is a gloom freer, the samesooner and more sooner, this is no error in hurry and in pressure and inopposition to consideration.

A recital, what is a recital, it is an organ and use does not strengthenvalor, it soothes medicine.

A transfer, a large transfer, a little transfer, some transfer, cloudsand tracks do transfer, a transfer is not neglected.

Pride, when is there perfect pretence, there is no more than yesterdayand ordinary.

A sentence of a vagueness that is violence is authority and a missionand stumbling and also certainly also a prison. Calmness, calm is besidethe plate and in way in. There is no turn in terror. There is no volumein sound.

There is coagulation in cold and there is none in prudence. Somethingis preserved and the evening is long and the colder spring has suddenshadows in a sun. All the stain is tender and lilacs really lilacs aredisturbed. Why is the perfect reëstablishment practiced and prized, whyis it composed. The result the pure result is juice and size and bakingand exhibition and nonchalance and sacrifice and volume and a section indivision and the surrounding recognition and horticulture and no murmur.This is a result. There is no superposition and circumstance, there ishardness and a reason and the rest and remainder. There is no delightand no mathematics.

Words in this poem 31
resignation n.
The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or comission. [F. résignation. See Resign.]
recurrence n.
The act of recurring, or state of being recurrent; return; resort; recourse. [Cf. F. récurrence.]
resumption n.
The act of resuming; as, the resumption of a grant, of delegated powers, of an argument, of specie payments, etc. [cf. F. résumption, L. resumptio restoration, recovery, fr. resumere. See Resume.]
beefsteak n.
A steak of beef; a slice of beef broiled or suitable for broiling.
resource n.
That to which one resorts orr on which one depends for supply or support; means of overcoming a difficulty; resort; expedient. [F. ressource, fr. OF. ressourdre, resourdre, to spring forth or up again; pref. re- re- + sourdre to spring forth. See Source.]
cumbersome a.
Burdensome or hindering, as a weight or drag; embarrassing; vexatious; cumbrous.
singular a.
Separate or apart from others; single; distinct. [OE. singuler, F. singulier, fr. L. singularius, singularis, fr. singulus single. See Single, a.]
centre v. i.
To be placed in a center; to be central.
altogether adv.
All together; conjointly. [OE. altogedere; al all + togedere together. See Together.]
obtrusive a.
Disposed to obtrude; inclined to intrude or thrust one's self or one's opinions upon others, or to enter uninvited; forward; pushing; intrusive.
exaggerating a.
That exaggerates; enlarging beyond bounds.
clatter v. i.
To make a rattling sound by striking hard bodies together; to make a succession of abrupt, rattling sounds. [AS. cla a rattle, akin to D. klateren to rattle. Cf. Clack.]
saturday n.
The seventh or last day of the week; the day following Friday and preceding Sunday. [OE. Saterday, AS. Sæterdæg, Sæterndæg, Sæternesdæg, literally, Saturn's day, fr. L. Saturnus Saturn + AS. dæg day; cf. L. dies Saturni.]
thirstiness n.
The state of being thirsty; thirst.
anyway adv.
Anywise; at all. Tennyson. Southey.
bigger a.
, compar. of Big.
daintiness n.
The quality of being dainty; nicety; niceness; elegance; delicacy; deliciousness; fastidiousness; squeamishness.
stretcher n.
One who, or that which, stretches.
spoonful n.
The quantity which a spoon contains, or is able to contain; as, a teaspoonful; a tablespoonful.
sincerely adv.
In a sincere manner. Specifically: (a) Purely; without alloy.
graciously adv.
In a gracious manner; courteously; benignantly.
estrangement n.
The act of estranging, or the state of being estranged; alienation. [Cf. OF. estrangement.]
bake v. t.
To prepare, as food, by cooking in a dry heat, either in an oven or under coals, or on heated stone or metal; as, to bake bread, meat, apples.
singularity n.
The quality or state of being singular; some character or quality of a thing by which it is distinguished from all, or from most, others; peculiarity. [L. singularitas: cf. F. singularité.]
blinder n.
One who, or that which, blinds.
sinner n.
One who has sinned; especially, one who has sinned without repenting; hence, a persistent and incorrigible transgressor; one condemned by the law of God.
freer n.
One who frees, or sets free.
pretence n.
The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.]
vagueness n.
The quality or state of being vague.
nonchalance n.
Indifference; carelessness; coolness. [F. See Nonchalant.]
superposition n.
The act of superposing, or the state of being superposed; as, the superposition of rocks; the superposition of one plane figure on another, in geometry. [Cf. F. superposition. See Super-, and Position.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Roastbeef is in the public domain. This text is taken from Tender Buttons: Objects, Food, Rooms, Project Gutenberg ebook #15396; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Gertrude Stein, Roastbeef, in Tender Buttons (1914), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #15396, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/stein-tender-buttons/food-roastbeef.html, id L28689.

About this section

Roastbeef is prose, printed in 37 paragraphs. It is part of the edition and is kept for reading, but nothing here is measured: the line breaks are the printer's, so no metre, rhyme scheme or scansion is stated.

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