First Lines: Flann O'Brien - The Poor Mouth: A Bad Story about the Hard Life

I am noting down the matters which are in this document because the next life is approaching me swiftly - far from us be the evil thing and may the bad spirit not regard me as a brother! - and also because our likes will never be there again.

First Lines: Flann O'Brien - At Swim-Two-Birds

(art: Jim Woodring)

Having placed in my mouth sufficient bread for three minutes' chewing, I withdrew my powers of sensual perception and retired into the privacy of my mind, my eyes and face assuming a vacant and preoccupied expression.