It is eighteen years ago, almost to the day- A sunny day…
““It is eighteen years ago, almost to the day- A sunny day with the leaves just turning, The touch-lines new-ruled - since I watched you play Your first game of fotball, then, like a satellite Wrenched from its orbit, go drifting away Behind a scatter of boys. I can see You walking away from me towards the school with the pathos of a half-fledged thing set free Into a wilderness, the gait of one Who finds no path where the path should be. That hesitant figure, eddying away Like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem, Has something I never quite grasp to convey About nature's give-and-take - the small, the scorching Ordeals which fire one's irresolute clay. I had worse partings, but none that so Gnaws at my mind still. Perhaps it is roughly Saying what God alone could perfectly show- How selfhood begins with a walking away, And love proved in the letting go.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Leaving familiar paths can spark personal growth, though it brings pain and uncertainty.
In simple terms: Walking away from comfort leads to growth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change despite fear.
Themes
growth
letting go
self-discovery
Mood
nostalgic
hopeful
Type
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career change
- relationship endings
- moving to new city
- artistic pursuits
Key Concepts
existential reflection
creative metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “walking away” mean for you?
- How can you honor what you leave behind?
A Different Perspective
Change can cause loss of community support.