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In June we picked the clover, And sea-shells in July…

“In June we picked the clover, And sea-shells in July: There was no silence at the door, No word from the sky. A hand came out of August And flicked his life away: We had not time to bargain, mope, Moralize, or pray.” quote by Cecil Day-Lewis
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““In June we picked the clover, And sea-shells in July: There was no silence at the door, No word from the sky. A hand came out of August And flicked his life away: We had not time to bargain, mope, Moralize, or pray.””

Cecil Day-Lewis

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poem describes a rapid succession of seasons and events, emphasizing fleeting time and lack of contemplation before death.

In simple terms: Life passes quickly without reflection.

Key Takeaway

Live mindfully before time runs out.

Themes

time mortality seasons impermanence

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal planning
  • grief processing
  • seasonal changes
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

ephemeral existence existential reflection

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you confront fleeting time?
  • What does “flicked his life away” suggest?
A Different Perspective

The poem’s abstract style may obscure concrete meaning.

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