When I was young, I hid under the porch with a star in my…
““When I was young, I hid under the porch with a star in my throat. When I got a little older, my mother opened the cupboard to let the fire out. ... I believe the stories got wet and began to bleed together. I believe we built the sides of the town too high and the events kept rolling back. I didn’t know that the water was going to keep rising as well, but if you have any say in the matter, while the boats go down, I’d like to be on a ladder, peeking into a loft made narcotic with children, a dead pool with rolling, living waves. If possible, I’d like the water to douse the match that’s growing out of the bones of my hand.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Childhood memories blend with loss and rising danger, seeking refuge in imagination amid overwhelming change.
In simple terms: Memories and fear intertwine, longing for safety.
Key Takeaway
Find creative outlets for trauma.
Themes
memory
water
growth
loss
imagination
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
expressive
When to use this quote
- family storytelling
- art therapy
- personal reflection
- environmental anxiety
Key Concepts
narrative
psychic flooding
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How does water symbolize emotional overflow?
- What safe spaces can replace imagined ladders?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors may obscure concrete needs.