This card of December 10, 1968, eight days before Merton's death, was typed by Patrick Hart, secretary to Thomas Merton. He gives permission to Williams to use poems in a forthcoming anthology that was never published. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Merton acknowledges Emmett Williams' poem "Red Chair" in Monk's Pond. He requests permission to publish two of his poems that appeared in Art International as well as Pignatari's "Cloaca." Mentions that Bob Lax visited him and that he's doing good new stuff. The letterhead is Abbey of Gethsemani. Merton thanks Emmett Williams for his contribution of "The Red Chair" that he will publish in Monk's Pond II. He indicates that the first issue has some fine Zen stuff and is going to press with help from Jonathan Williams. He compliments Williams on his Concrete Poetry Anthology and asks to be placed on the Something Else Press mailing list. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The letterhead is Monks Pond. Merton writes Emmett Williams that "All the things you are making happen sound good. Or helping make happen. Yes, visual poetry. I'd like to see that exhibit in Minneapolis. When will it be?" He continues, "I'm starting on some visual stuff. Hasn't loosened up yet but I think it will start to break soon. If only we had some more type here and the monastery printer had more time we could really do something about it." In a postscript, Merton adds a handwritten request, "Could I see a copy of the Bense reader? Looks interesting. Also the MacLow stanzas, as I am doing some, that - & Dieter Rot. Your catalog is very good. Only interesting one I've seen in a long time. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

The letterhead is Abbey of Gethsemani. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This poem is a varient of a poem reproduced in Merton's Collected Poems book. This poem is written in the style used by Jackson MacLow for stanzas who is mentioned in a letter from Merton to Emmett Williams. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This poem is a varient of a poem reproduced in Merton's Collected Poems book. This poem is written in the style used by Jackson MacLow for stanzas who is mentioned in a letter from Merton to Emmett Williams. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

This is the second printing of the book. The final section consists of 12 concrete, typewriter poems. The Sackner Archive holds the originals of HURLUB and BROnze fasHIONs that are reproduced in this section. It also holds varients of NORMS that is printed in this section. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.