Monday, June 29, 2009

Indeterminacy 154


ph: Ralph Crane

Mrs. Coomaraswamy told another story about
business methods in India.
It seems that
early one morning she was at
a kind of craftsmen’s bazaar.
There were
fewer shops available than there were
craftsmen.
So a poetry contest was arranged.
The one who
made up the best poem got the
shop. The
losers were going away quite contented
reciting the winning poem.
She asked them why
they were so pleased since they were
actually unfortunate.
They said,
“Oh, it’s no matter.
When his goods are sold
he’ll have no use for the shop.
Then one
more of us will get a chance to sell what
he has, and so on.”

- John Cage

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