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I’m sure we were all feeling blessed on this ferryboat…

“I’m sure we were all feeling blessed on this ferryboat among the humps of very green--in the sunlight almost coolly burning, like phosphorus--islands, and the water of inlets winking in the sincere light of day, under a sky as blue and brainless as the love of God, despite the smell, the slight…” quote by Denis Johnson
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““I’m sure we were all feeling blessed on this ferryboat among the humps of very green--in the sunlight almost coolly burning, like phosphorus--islands, and the water of inlets winking in the sincere light of day, under a sky as blue and brainless as the love of God, despite the smell, the slight, dreamy suffocation, of some kind of petroleum-based compound used to seal the deck’s seams.””

Denis Johnson

About This Quote

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

The narrator describes a vivid, almost surreal scene on a ferry, mixing natural beauty with artificial smells, reflecting on a complex blend of awe and discomfort.

In simple terms: A beautiful yet unsettling ferry scene.

Key Takeaway

Notice both wonder and unease in surroundings.

Themes

nature beauty discomfort spirituality

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

descriptive poetic

When to use this quote

  • travel
  • maritime
  • environmental observation
  • artistic description

Key Concepts

surrealism sensory detail contradiction

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does the contrast between beauty and scent affect perception?
  • What does the sky symbolize?
A Different Perspective

The poetic language may obscure practical meaning.

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